Tag Archives: short of breath

How Do You Take Care of Yourself When You Don’t Have Time To Catch Your Breath?

Life can keep you running 24/7!

Even my retired friends tell me they just don’t know where the days go.

They say they got more done when they were chasing their tails.  Some have jumped into new activities that keep them just as busy as ever.

Sound familiar?

Do you take care of yourself?

Catch your breath

The most important way to “catch your breath” is by finding the time to relax every muscle in your body and be still, for a few minutes everyday.

  • Releasing the tension will actually allow you to breathe more deeply.
  • By checking in with yourself, you allow a chance to get centered, and to find out “how you are”.
  • Just becoming aware of your feelings, offers the opportunity to release them.
  • When you have “arrived” at a state of relaxation, you are able to access your intuition, and your day becomes much more efficient.
  • Surrender is a very beneficial vantage point, accepting what IS allows you to move forward.
  • Though it seems like relaxation should come naturally, it actually requires consistent practice to get results.

 

Down Time Is Important BUT So Is Being Active!

  •  Inactivity will lead you to an early death.
  • Your heart is a muscle, if you don’t give it work to do, it will become progressively weaker.
  • If you are concerned about diabetes, depression, or heart failure, you should be concerned about getting active!

Catch your breath, and then find an active way to enjoy your day!

 

Many blessings,

Carrie Tucker, RCP

The Life Breath Coach

Heart Failure Solutions

 

PS– Remember everyday:

  • Relax and Release tension
  • Exhale Slowly
  • Be active in a way that adds Joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter

Low Oxygen Level: Can You Recover?

Low Oxygen Levels

Ditching home oxygen sure sounds like a good idea most of the time.  It’s inconvenient and annoying.

Over 10 years, I’ve cared for more than a thousand people with low oxygen level.

One of the most common questions I am asked is, “Can you recover from low oxygen levels?”

The more chronic your condition, the more likely you will be to need oxygen therapy to live a normal life.

Amazing recovery from low oxygen levels is certainly a possibility, it just won’t happen without consistent effort on your part.   NOTHING is impossible.

It’s understandable that your focus is getting your life back to normal.  You don’t want to drag oxygen tanks around.  In fact, you might be inclined to sit at home and wait to get better.  I want to encourage you to get out there and live your life WITH your oxygen tank if you need it!  (You may NEED it even if you don’t think you do!)

Your LIFE will becomes your exercise program when you insure safe oxygen levels while you get out there and LIVE!

If you push through your life WITHOUT needed supplemental oxygen you will cause yourself a whole lot of suffering.

It’s urgent that you prioritize your oxygen need.  Below 92% IS harmful!

Even a little below 92% blood oxygen saturation is very dangerous.

IF you recover from low oxygen level, it will be from attending to your needs rather than ignoring them.

Gas laws are universal!  This is not an “opinion”!  Without AT LEAST 92% blood oxygen saturation there will not be enough oxygen PRESSURE in your blood vessels (pipes) to push the oxygen into your cells, tissues, muscles, organs, and organ systems.  PERIOD.

Do not believe anyone who gives you advice that contradicts this truth.  It will harm you!

 

So, can you recover from low oxygen level?

 

Sorry to ask a question with a question, but it is a question YOU should be asking …

“Can I die from low oxygen level?”

The answer to that question is, “Yes, you CAN die from low oxygen level!”.


 

Your situation might look different than the next guy, but there is no getting around basic fundamental gas laws.

If the oxygen in your blood is less than 92% saturated with oxygen, then the oxygen molecules can’t reach their destination using their preferred method of transportation, your red blood cells.

If you fail to meet your basic need for oxygen you will quickly deteriorate and quite likely suffer a life threatening event!

Here are a few “low oxygen level stories”:

 

Yolanda just hated using oxygen.

She had been hospitalized many times but just couldn’t bring herself to use it on a consistent basis.

Finally, after one hospitalization too many, she came to terms with it.

“I have to use this annoying thing, or I am going to die,” she said.

As a long time smoker, she knows it’s for keeps.

Robert didn’t think he needed oxygen except at night.

“That’s what my doctor told me,” he said.

The oximeter said he had an oxygen deficit with activity.

Robert was also over exerting himself with exercise.

“No pain no gain!”

It wasn’t easy to convinced Robert that he needed to use supplemental oxygen with activity and even tougher to get him to stay at a nice calm pace.

Robert began supplementing oxygen during activity, (and light exercise) and was so surprised to find out how much more energy he had to enjoy his family.

He felt fine when his grand-kids got out of school!

His usual nap time became routine fun with his favorite little people!

Jane’s story was deadly.  Read it here ->  Deadly Low Oxygen Level

Low oxygen level can cause vagal stimulation, which will suddenly stop your heart.  Jane ignored her oxygen needs and suffered the ultimate consequence.

 

 

It is important that safety come first!

When your oxygen level dips it can cause your heart to stop!                        

Did you get that?

Low Oxygen Levels Can Cause Sudden Death!

Before you worry about recovery, make sure you DO NO HARM!

The key to getting off supplemental oxygen is strength building, BUT that is NOT what you think it is!

Please don’t make the mistake of thinking that means to hit the gym!

“No pain, no gain” is NOT a helpful philosophy at this point in your healing process.

You need to know how to gain strength without hurting yourself!

 

Chris became a Life Breath Club Member when he was fighting for his life.

He was in and out of the hospital and doctors told him his only hope to live was a heart transplant, because his heart would never get strong again.

Within a few weeks of applying the information Chris learned from the Life Breath Club he was feeling so much better that everything changed for him.  He began walking, slowly at first but then for longer stretches with greater ease.

Chris got back to work and travel within a couple months!

 

Anita felt like using oxygen meant giving up the fight.

Oxygen seemed like a crutch more than a tool to Anita.  She has been dealing with significant kypho scoliosis since birth, yet has accomplished more in her lifetime than a crowd of average healthy people could manage!

Her dis-ability never dis-abled her!

She is one of the most “able” people you will ever meet.

When she convinced herself that supplemental oxygen was worth her time, she was shocked at the benefit she gained from using it!  Within a week she had dropped 7 pounds!  The pounds continue to melt away even though Anita has begun to put on muscle weight!

Sleep apnea was something Anita thought she had under control, but once she dropped her blood pressure with all those pounds, her night time ventilation completely changed, as well.

Anita discovered that seeking health has taken her on a journey.  She is just grateful that she now has plenty of energy to navigate her options and get the care she needs!

Education is your best defense.

Find out why how to address low oxygen levels and lose dangerous fluid weight.

Click on the link below to check out the benefits of membership.

Join Now

Please request access to our private membership site to protect your medical privacy.

It’s free and there is no obligation.

Welcome to The Club!

 

Many BLESSings,

Carrie Tucker, RCP

“The Life Breath Coach”

Heart Failure Solutions

 

PS– Remember everyday:

  • Relax and Release tension
  • Exhale Slowly
  • Be active in a way that adds Joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter

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Low Oxygen Levels: How Low is Too Low and Should You Worry?

Oxygen Regulator

Low oxygen levels will rob you of your eye sight, short term memory, and your energy. Eventually low oxygen levels will weaken your heart muscle.

Heart Failure IS -> Progressive weakening of your heart muscle! (Read that sentence again. It is that important.)

The world is facing an epidemic of heart failure!  This ONE health crisis will rob more productive work years from Americans than any other.  

Why should you be concerned about oxygen?

Oxygen isn’t typically something you worry about. If you are looking into “low oxygen levels”, you likely heard the term from your doctor. As the caregiver of a loved one, you
might become familiar with the importance of oxygen as a life saving requirement, but fail to realize how effective it can be in minimizing discomfort and maintaining quality-of-
life.

Everyone worries about high blood pressure, carrying extra weight and other issues routine blood work can reveal. It’s all part of the natural aging process and your growing
concern for your health. After all, you don’t ignore your bad health until it kills you if you know better, right?

Being over-weight increases your risk for many diseases, especially heart disease. So, you diet and attempt to get “regular exercise”. Maybe you join a gym, or consider
gastric bypass surgery. You do what it takes because health is important. 

High blood pressure is called the silent killer, because it can be deadly without symptoms. Most people know that it’s important to get their blood pressure checked
regularly, just to be safe.

You’ve been told you should worry about your cholesterol levels. Everybody seems to know that reducing your bad cholesterol is important, so your doctor will likely offer
you a prescription to lower your cholesterol if it is elevated. Even if your cholesterol isn’t elevated, your doctor may prescribe Statin medication as a “precaution” when you
have other risk factors for heart disease. (That so called preventative medication might not be such a good idea.

There are plenty of risk factors to worry about. Why add oxygen to the list?

If your doctor is expressing concern about your blood oxygen levels, you should be concerned, too.

You may be inclined to argue with your doctor if he/she would like to see you using oxygen 24 hours a day. It’s fair to say that round-the-clock oxygen therapy is inconvenient and irritating.

It’s also difficult to understand why it is necessary.

What is there to be concerned about?

Consequences of Low Blood Oxygen Level:

• damage eye sight
• deteriorate short term memory
• weaken muscle (your heart is a muscle)
• increase pain
• reduced clarity/focus
• loss of your natural charming disposition
• potentially create life threatening cranial nerve stimulation

Since low-flow home-oxygen is completely safe and doesn’t cause side-effects you are better off to use it than to resist using it and suffer the consequences of low blood oxygen. It isn’t an easy to swallow pill, but it might just be more important than every pill in your pill box.

Oxygen is one prescription you don’t want to second guess.

If your doctor wants you on oxygen, you are crazy to argue.

Does your doctor monitor your blood oxygen levels routinely?

Not all doctors have oximeters (oxygen measuring devices) in their office. If they don’t have one, they have no way to routinely monitor your oxygen level during your physicals, check-ups and illness related appointments.

This isn’t at all unusual. Even if doctors have oximeters, they may not use them unless you have some sort of breathing complaint. It isn’t widely understood, even with doctors, that low oxygen is most often NOT accompanied by shortness-of-breath.

It isn’t at all uncommon for doctors and nurses to minimize the importance of oxygen therapy and to dismiss low oxygen readings if they only last a short period of time.

This approach is much like waiting for things to get worse.

Whether your doctor monitors your blood oxygen level or not, YOU SHOULD.

There is no doubt about it. Taking an active role in your health care can cause you more stress than putting blind trust in your doctor, but if your doctor doesn’t offer you the solution you need, who will?

Doctors are making educated guesses and doing the best they can. Luckily they also have the benefit of a well educated team with many years of combined experience. Good health care requires team work. It can be tempting to allow your doctor to lead the team but NO ONE is more motivated and invested in finding solutions to your suffering than YOU are.

It’s important for you to be aware that your participation is the key to positive results.

Certainly, if your health care team doesn’t successfully uncover the cause of your suffering and eliminate it or otherwise address it, you are the only one who will suffer the consequence. Ultimately, you pay the price for oversights and mistakes.

Unfortunately, low blood oxygen causes devastating consequences.

If your doctor is advocating for oxygen therapy, you are fortunate. Most doctors overlook the harm low oxygen levels are causing and shrug off the importance of monitoring and meeting oxygen needs.

Good quality-of-life is your goal. The damage caused by low oxygen levels prevents you from functioning the way you normally would. How much joy would you lose if your eyesight slowly deteriorated?

As you age, you tend to think you are just getting old and out of shape. The progressive muscle weakening caused by low oxygen levels effects your heart muscle. When your heart muscle is weakened by low oxygen levels your whole world changes, but it doesn’t typically happen all of a sudden.

When you suffer a heart attack part of your heart muscle dies. With congestive heart failure things [more often than not] happen very slowly. The progressive weakening of your heart muscle is gradual. For years your doctor will tell you “your heart is fine”.

Once you know you are living with congestive heart failure, you should understand that oxygen is the key to protecting your weakened heart muscle and to strengthening it.

Low oxygen is a BIG deal. (Ask your questions on the weekly Zoom Call Mondays at 1:00pm Pacific Time)

If your low oxygen levels are caused by lung disease, it’s important to remember that keeping your blood oxygen level above 92% is important to protect your heart.

If your low oxygen levels are caused by heart disease, it’s important to remember that failing to address low oxygen levels will further weaken your heart muscle. 

So how low is too low? 

 

7 Facts to Remember About Blood Oxygen Saturation Levels

1.  When oxygen saturation levels fall below 92%, the pressure of the oxygen in your blood is too low to penetrate the walls of the red blood cells. It is a matter of gas laws.

2. Your insurance company may not pay for oxygen unless your levels fall to 88% oxygen saturation. This has nothing to do with what is best for you, it is just the point at which your insurance is willing to pay.

3.  Every time your oxygen level falls below 92% saturation the cells of your body are oxygen starved.

4. When you fail to meet your oxygen needs, every organ in your body suffers the consequences.

5. Low oxygen levels may be present only at certain times.

  •  when retaining excessive fluid
  •  when airways are reacting to irritants
  •  with respiratory illness
  •  sleep apnea
  •  about 3:00am when you wake gasping for air
  •  with activity when your heart muscle has become weak, though isn’t technically “congestive heart failure”….. yet

6.  Recurring low oxygen levels are harmful and should be treated with supplemental oxygen.

7. The problem is that your doctor may not witness your oxygen levels at 88%, and if he doesn’t see that reading on an oxygen meter (oximeter), then most insurance companies will not pay for it, and therefore doctors don’t order it.

Low oxygen levels are definitely something to worry about!

If you feel you may be experiencing low oxygen levels be sure to ask your doctor to check your pulse oximetry reading.

Symptoms of low oxygen are:

  •  shortness of breath/ difficulty breathing/ dyspnea
  •  extreme fatigue
  •  chest tightness
  •  mental confusion
  •  tingling fingers
  •  water retention (especially feet/ ankles)
  •  chronic cough

If you are experiencing blood oxygen saturation levels below 92% now, waiting for your doctor to witness it below 88% and order oxygen is equal to sitting around waiting to get worse.

Are you concerned?

Join Us on the “Ask Your Health Questions” Zoom Call Mondays at 1:00 pm Pacific Time