CO For COPD Patients?

[openmike]

The problem often with COPD is a cascade of issues some might be added in CO . Firstly, COPD is frequently exacerbated by a cycle of colonizing bacteria , mucus productivity, uneven distribution of
air ,air trapping on exhalation placing stress on numerous alveolous. Many ( not all COPD folks developed CO2 retention leading to respiratory acidosis, but the good news is the acid is countered by the kidneys retention of the alkaline bicarbonate!!) At higher altitudes the % of oxygen remains the same BUT the atmospheric pressure decreases causing the driving force of oxygen to be compromised . This lack of pressure effects even non acclimated healthy folks, but causes a potential hypoxia in COPD. A dry climate like Arizona might add to the humidity deficit making expectration of mucus more difficult. Unfortunately I'm lacking enough knowledge as to the best climate for COPD ,but CO is not where I would move. You must research locations please excuse my ignorance.

Registered Respiratory Therapist ( retired)

[bigdogmom13]

Originally Posted by openmike

The problem often with COPD is a cascade of issues some might be added in CO . Firstly, COPD is frequently exacerbated by a cycle of colonizing bacteria , mucus productivity, uneven distribution of
air ,air trapping on exhalation placing stress on numerous alveolous. Many ( not all COPD folks developed CO2 retention leading to respiratory acidosis, but the good news is the acid is countered by the kidneys retention of the alkaline bicarbonate!!) At higher altitudes the % of oxygen remains the same BUT the atmospheric pressure decreases causing the driving force of oxygen to be compromised . This lack of pressure effects even non acclimated healthy folks, but causes a potential hypoxia in COPD. A dry climate like Arizona might add to the humidity deficit making expectration of mucus more difficult. Unfortunately I'm lacking enough knowledge as to the best climate for COPD ,but CO is not where I would move. You must research locations please excuse my ignorance.

Registered Respiratory Therapist ( retired)

Hahahaha, I KNEW you were a respiratory therapist before I even finished reading your post! (I'm an RT too )

[brightdoglover]

Excellent info.
I talked to my friend at 6000 feet who has COPD and she, at 86, has decided that she'd rather stay where she is, near family and familiarity, then take the trouble to move and maybe get a bit more of life. She had pneumonia last winter but pulled through. She had a beloved sister living on the California coast, and had thought of moving there for both sister and COPD easing, but her sister passed last year and she staying at 6000 feet.

[Scooty13]

My mother in law had COPD. She lived in Grand Junction (Mesa County) and had to go on supplemental oxygen when she was in her late 70s. She was from Lake City and experienced shortness of breath whenever she went there to visit family.

What bothered her about living in Mesa County was the "burn season" when the farmers burn their fields. This occurs twice a year. In the spring it lasts for 3 months and I think, for 2 months in the fall. This aggravated her COPD unless she stayed indoors.

[marcopolo]

We've heard anecdotally from many people with lung diseases that visiting or moving to the gulf coast alleviated symptoms. The atmosphere is 7% less dense per 1,000 feet of elevation--an 7% is a lot when you don't have enough oxygen anyway.

[phetaroi]

I was in a business meeting for about an hour a couple of years ago here in COS, and the man I was dealing with directly was clearly having problems breathing. I asked if he was okay. He said he had COPD and he and his family knew they HAD to move to lower elevations, even though they loved it here. Not sure how long he stayed in the region, but it was an eye opener.

[Sunderpig2]

My Dad has COPD, and really had a hard time when he visited my family. We spent most of the time in Estes Park, so that may have been worse than if we were at a lower altitude.

As for allergies, I never had problems with allergies until moving to CO. There seem to be a number of sources of pollen that I never had to deal with in southern latitudes. My respiratory system is definitely not used to them. It seems to get harder each year dealing with them, as though they are slowly doing irreversible damage (that's the only way I can describe it).