Can I Travel by Air With My Portable Oxygen Concentrator?

For many people receiving oxygen therapy, a portable oxygen concentrator is the preferred delivery method because of the mobility and freedom to travel they afford the user. One of the most popular questions oxygen users ask is whether they can travel by air with their portable oxygen concentrator or not. The good news is that the Federal Aviation Administration (or, FAA) allows some makes and models of POC's to accompany travelers on an airplane.

The FAA's decision to investigate whether travel by air with a portable oxygen concentrator was safe came in response to the intense pressure from Americans who rely on oxygen treatment daily. Portable oxygen concentrators have been approved for use on-board aircraft because, unlike their compressed-oxygen predecessors, they do not pose a risk to other passengers.

Some of the portable oxygen concentrators that are approved for use on-board planes include: Inogen One G2 Portable Oxygen Concentrator with the lowest weight at only 7.25 pounds, SeQual Eclipse Portable Oxygen Concentrator with 5 year warranty, Invacare SOLO2 Travel Oxygen Concentrator with 3 LPM continuous oxygen flow and 1.8 LPM pulse oxygen, Invacare XPO2 Portable Oxygen Concentrator with the lowest power consumption, Respironics EverGo with 4 hours of battery life before requiring a recharge, Oxlife Independence the first true 24/7 oxygen concentrator with the longest battery life (5.75 hours) and a durable metal cabinet, Lifechoice Concentrator with the smallest size, and the DeVillbiss iGo with an operating altitude of 13,123 feet above sea level.

It is important to note that despite these advances, not every airline allows portable oxygen concentrators on-board. To be sure you won't run into any trouble, passengers are advised to check with the airline no less than 48 hours before your flight is set to depart if you require a POC for travel.

Currently, the following airlines (in alphabetical order) allow travel by air with portable oxygen concentrators:

American Airlines

America West

Alaskan Airlines

Air France

Allegiant Airlines

ATA Airlines

Continental Airlines

Delta Airlines

Frontier Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines

Lufthansa

Midwest Airlines

Northwest Airlines

Qantas

SAS Airlines

South West Airlines

Sun Country

USA 3000

US Airways

West Jet Airlines

Even if the airline you intend to travel on is listed above, however, you still need to provide a signed doctor's note outlining that you require your portable oxygen concentrator. The note must indicate that you can adequately respond to alarms, to see and hear effectively, and whether your oxygen is required for all or part of the trip. In addition, your doctor should specify the required flow taking into consideration the pressure in the airplane cabin. You can find a template for a doctor's note for this purpose at the following link: Portable Oxygen Airline Use Physician’s Note. Simply ask your doctor to fill out and sign the form well in advance of your travel plans.

The FAA's decision to allow passengers to travel by air with their portable oxygen concentrators was largely based on the advances made in oxygen concentrator technology. Previously, compressed oxygen tanks were not permitted on aircraft because of the potential for them to explode under the variable pressures of the cabin. These days, however, it is possible for oxygen therapy patients to travel by air with their portable oxygen concentrators which pose a very minimal risk compared with compressed tanks. In fact, it's not only possible, it's easy.

If you are looking to travel by air in the future and would like to buy a Portable Oxygen Concentrator, consider buying from an Online Medical Supply source like Vitality Medical. They have a variety of choices that will have you traveling again by airline in no time!

Where Can You Buy Hospital Bed Accessories?

Choose Vitality Medical For Hospital Beds

Hospital beds and accessories come in many different varieties and makes. Where can you find them on the Internet? Try Vitalitymedical.com, they stack up on all kinds of medical equipment from tapes to hospital beds. They even provide discounts for 365 days of the year. You will always find a good offer on vitalitymedical.com for some product every day.

Hospital beds are quite different from your average household beds. They have mechanisms to raise or lower the height of the bed, to move the bed into a half-sitting position and do many more things. These beds are geared towards providing the ultimate comfort to the patient. For example, a patient recovering from some kind of abdominal surgery will not be able to sleep completely flat on a normal bed. But, with a hospital bed, the upper half of the bed can be raised so that the abdomen is not horizontal. This considerably reduces discomfort and aids the patient in getting much needed rest. There are basically two types of hospital beds, both of which you will find in the hospital beds and accessories section of vitalitymedical.com Hospital Beds page.

Hospital Bed Accessories Available

The age of the uncomfortable hospital bed mattresses has passed. Today you can get mattresses designed for your individual needs. If you are looking for durability as well as comfort then the traditional innerspring mattresses are perfect. You can also opt for a bariatric mattress which is made of hard foam that provides great support to the patient and makes them feel at home. These mattresses can be bought from the Bed Mattresses section of VitalityMedical.com. To accommodate further comfort for the patient you can buy Mattress Overlays which can be of the air type or floatation type. The air type overlay has small air pockets which provide an added level of comfort to the user. The floatation type overlay goes one step further and provides an escape route for liquids as well. This type of overlay is perfect for those elderly patients who have a problem in dispersing urine without damaging the mattress underneath it. Another type of mattress is the gel-floatation mattress overlay that functions as a water bed without the swaying motion of a waterbed. This overlay provides the best comfort among all others. Pressure reducing foam mattresses are also available in the bed mattress section of vitalitymedical.com which provides the best comfort to patients suffering from bed sore ulcers. They are easy to setup and also operate. Other than these usual choices you can also go for the luxury types such as water mattresses and bariatric low air mattresses which provide the ultimate comfort and are perfect for home use. They do not give the rocking effect of a normal water bed and hence prove quite comfortable for patients.

When searching for a hospital bed mattress do not equate price with your choice. After all, the patient’s comfort is foremost. Base your decision on what the patient’s condition is and what mattress would serve him best.

Bed Railings For Better Protection

Elderly patients and children are at the greatest risk of falling out of bed and suffering injuries. Although a small distance from the ground, a fall off of a hospital bed can result in serious fractures and aggravation of other injuries. Ensuring that children, high risk patients and fall management patients stay on the bed while sleeping can be accomplished with the use of bed side rails. You can find a variety of bed rails on vitalitymedical.com such as the T-shaped bed rail, hospital bed rail, padded bedrails, full length telescopic rails, children’s bed rails, etc. Some rail systems confine a person physically while others provide a minimum level of security and aid them in getting up or down. For a mentally impaired patient or person suffering from psychomotor disorder, there are rails to prevent involuntary movements. Vertical rails are used to help patients sit-up. Hospital bed rails do only confine a patient; they can perform many more functions as well such as serving as a grab bar or assist rail. When choosing a bed rail always remember that they are very important for the full and safe recovery of a patient. It is very easy to overlook rails and later repent over an accident on how easy it could have been to avert such an accident. So, make sure you invest on rails to cover the bed edges.

Other Accessories

Other than beds, mattresses, and rails you may need wedges, pillows and cushions to provide support to the head or body. You can find this as well on vitalitymedical.com. Investing in pillows and cushions is a great way to show your patients that you care for them and their comfort is of great interest to you. Not only do they beautify a bed but also provide support to the head and neck regions. Specially made hospital pillows can be easily washed and dried and are essential for patient comfort.

Advantages Of Using Vitality Medical

Hospital beds, mattresses, mattress overlays, rails and pillows are some of the medical supply items that you can purchase online at vitalitymedical.com. There are discounts to help you make an economical purchase. Vitality Medical provides all kinds of hospital beds and accessories at much wholesale prices and has steep discounts on various products throughout the year. You can even check for many other hospital supplies and also personal healthcare products as well. It is a great site not only for hospitals and care centers but also for home needs as well. Above all, Vitality Medical does not have a restocking fee so if you are dissatisfied with the product you have purchased then you can return it to us within 30 days and for a full refund.

What Are Handicap Accessible Bathrooms? Options that do not require remodeling.

Making a shower handicap friendly

Handicapped individuals usually quickly learn how to cope with their new circumstances and adapt their handicap to their daily lives. However, one of the most difficult adaptations is daily bathing. Often daily bathing requires dependence upon another person for assistance. Nobody likes to lose their dignity, even the physically impaired. Unfortunately life circumstances have made it so that handicapped individuals find that they have to compromise with their dignity.

Shower areas are commonly constructed for use by people without physical impairments. Future possible handicaps are not planned into construction. Therefore, many people who become physically impaired find a need to remodel their showers to make them more handicap friendly. This involves removing any uneven surface and leveling the floor of the bathroom as well as shower area. Remodeling also involves installing grab bars at transition locations like the shower, bath, and commode. A shower seat or bath stool is also an important upgrade. The grab bars assist the handicap person to safely get into the shower or bath or transition to a sitting on the commode or back to a standing position. A shower chair or bath stool allows the individual to bathe without requiring help from another human being.

Showers and bath issues with the handicapped

Regular showers generally have their floor slightly elevated from the bathroom floor so as to stop water from entering the rest of the area. In case of bathrooms with bathtubs, it becomes almost impossible for a handicapped person to enter the shower area. For this purpose, a specially designed lift has to be made which will lower the handicapped into the tub. Again, these modifications are costly and not very effective. The doors to shower areas prove another major hassle. How will a handicapped person get up from the chair and open the door? A common solution is to remove the door to the shower area. Floors should be changed to an anti-skid type to facilitate the safe usage of wheelchairs.

Alternatives to remodeling

Although it is a logical choice to remodel a bathroom for handicap use, it can be very expensive. Most people opt for less expensive alternatives to remodeling. For example, mobile showers are a preferred choice all over the world. These showers can be placed anywhere in the house and do not require a plumber to fix them up. They are easily accessible by a handicapped person by themselves and have proven to be a great alternative to expensive remodeling. Toilets can be improved for the handicap or disabled by raising the seat. Installing bars around the toilet and bringing racks down to their eye level will increase accessibility.

The different types of portable showers available

There are portable showers with a large bathing area to accommodate wheelchairs. This will allow a handicap to take a shower without leaving the safety of a wheel chair. This kind of a shower has a small inclination ramp to facilitate the movement of the wheelchair into the shower area and to prevent it from sliding off. Once in place, the wheelchair can be locked into position, providing another layer of safety. In this shower a hand held showerhead is provided for easy of use in bathing. Similarly for a handicapped person who can stand, there are portable showers which are tall and have bars to which the person can hold on to while taking a shower. These showers are a less expensive alternative to remodeling and can also be used anywhere. The fact that they are portable helps the disabled person take it along wherever they travel.

Other alternatives

If a portable shower is not right for you, consider using a handicap oriented bathtub. These tubs have a lift to provide a platform to get into the tub. Bathtubs specifically designed for the handicap are pricey but they facilitate the full use of the bathtub. Every detail to making it easier for bathing is taken into account. All racks and mirrors should be lowered to sitting level. Making these additions will be cheap and make the bathroom handicap friendly.

Where can I buy portable handicap showers and other accessories?

Vitality Medical carries many bathroom accessibility items to help people who are disabled or handicapped. Their web pages include foldable seats, grab bars, shower commodes and various sizes of portable showers. Making a shower area handicap friendly does not have to be expensive. Vitality Medical has a no restocking fee policy which basically means that if you are not satisfied with your purchase then you can return the product and receive a full refund without extra fees.

Who Is Kendall?

Kendall Medical Supply

Hospital equipment, hospital supplies, home medical supplies and home medical equipment are some of the products supplied by Kendall Medical Supply. This company recently joined forces with Covidien, which manufactures and markets medical supplies such as needles and syringes, incontinence care products, and nursing care products. Kendall provides products that are used in many clinical settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, long-term care facilities and the patient's own home. Kendall offers inovative solutions to medical procedures and patient outcomes. This global medical products company is a leader in innovation for both hospital devices and in-home care. Covidien Kendall is based in Mansfield, Massachusetts.

Kendall offers the following medical supply categories: incontinence, wound care, enteral feeding, urology, suction, electrodes, thermometry, chart paper, needles, syringes, shaprs disposal, OEM products, and operating room supplies, .

Below is a list of some of the medical supplies and medical equipment marketed by Kendall along with Internet links of where these products can be purchased:

Wound Care

• Poly skin


• Tenderwrap Unna Boot


• Conform Stretch Bandage


• Telfa Ouchless Dressing


• Curity Alcohol Prep Pads


• Excilon Sponge


• Lisco Sponge


• Curity Gauze Sponge


• Gauze Pads


• ABD Pad


• Kerlix Gauze Roll


• Wet Pruf Tape


• Packing Strips

Incontinence Products

1. Disposable Under Pads
   
   
   
   • Tendersorb Underpad
   
   
   • Durasorb Underpad
   
   
   • MaxiCare Underpad
   
   
   • Wings Maxima Underpad
   
   
   • Maxiflo Breathable Underpad



2. Pads
   
   
   
   • Presence Pad
   
   
   • Simplicity Insert Pad
   
   



3. Briefs
   
   
   
   • Wings Classic
   
   
   • Wings Choice
   
   
   • Ables Adult
   
   

Urinary Supplies

• Curity Bedside Drainage Bag


• Curity Urine Leg Bags


• Robinson Catheters


• Texas Catheter


• Uri Drain External Catheter


• Foley Catheter


• Dover Intermittent Catheter


• Catheter Trays

Diabetic Supplies

• Monoject Insulin Safety Syringe


• Softpack Insulin Syringe


• Sharps Containers


• Lancets

Patient Care Equipment and Supplies

• Enteral Feeding Pumps


• Argyle Feeding Tubes


• Anti-embolism Stockings


• Argyle Feeding Tubes


• Nasogastric Feeding Tube


• Curity Disposable Nursing Pads


• Yankauer Suction Instruments


• Wash Cloths


• Moisture Barrier Salve

Kendall Medical Supplies may be ordered from Vitality Medical on their web site, and they will be delivered right to your door. If you can’t find the item you want in Vitality Medical’s online catalog, contact them at 800-397-5899 and they will do their best to locate it for you.

What is the Lowest Priced Oxygen Concentrator?

Many patients now require large doses of oxygen therapy at home. People that are diagnosed with COPD, emphysema, bronchitis, and various other respiratory diseases have a need for at home oxygen therapy. When that is the case, the Home Oxygen Concentrators that are available from Vitality Medical are an excellent option. These Home Oxygen Concentrators range from 5 LPM to 10 LPM. The nice thing about the selection available from Vitality Medical is that there are units to meet most any budget.

The John Bunn Optium

When you are considering the options available in oxygen concentrators, the John Bunn Optium is a very economical choice that provides great value. This unit is compact, lightweight, and easily moved from room to room. It also provides up to 5 LPM and has many other great features as well. Let’s look at a few of those features.

• The John Bunn Optium is the most economical of all of the units that are carried by Vitality Medical.


• This item offers a convenient retractable luggage handle that makes moving it in house, or for transport, an easy task.


• The sleek, attractive, and useful cabinet design makes it appealing for home use, home care, and use in long-term care facilities.


• Designed for low maintenance and excellent reliability.


• This unit is very quiet with a noise ranking under 45 dBA.


• This unit operates very energy efficiently requiring low power consumption which equates to lower cost operation.


• The Optium offers an optional OPI, or oxygen percentage indicator.


• The John Bunn ranks very high in safety as it has a circuit breaker, pressure relief valve, power failure alarm, PCB failure, low and high pressure alarms and a low purity alarm.


• This oxygen concentrator is designed for durability and ease of use. A cooling fan on the compressor extends its life, bottom exhaust helps the unit run cooler, and well-designed castors make mobility easy.


• Five year limited warranty.

Reliability is Key

It is important to know that the unit you purchase is dependable. Because all of the oxygen concentrators that are provided by Vitality Medical are high quality, each has a warranty that stands behind the product. This is extremely important and should go a long way to provide peace of mind to the patients.

While there is more to consider than price alone, Vitality Medical carries a terrific line of oxygen concentrators that are designed to provide the features that each patient needs at a price they can afford. It is important that everyone is able to provide what is necessary to protect and improve their health without breaking the bank. Vitality Medical provides oxygen concentrators and other respiratory supplies that range from 0.5 to 10 LPM, some very compact units, and excellent features of convenience. There are even oxygen concentrators that are only available by prescription.

Why Order from Vitality Medical? We Have No Restocking Fee!

We do not charge Restocking fees

Here at Vitality Medical, we believe that restocking fees, although sometimes quite necessary, should never be charged with an approved refund. But to understand this situation, we need to know why our competitors charge a restocking fee. The idea behind restocking fees is that if the item returned does not have a defect from the manufacture, then it is not the retailer's or manufacturer's fault over your dissatisfaction. So to cover the charges to process, repackage and re-market the product returned, the customer should be charged 10% to 20% of the price of the product.

Vitality Medical does not entirely disagree with the concept behind restocking fees but we do disagree that having such a clause in the purchasing policy with customers puts our customers in a dilemma. A restocking fee means a loss of money to our customers. It means that a customer would rather stick to the product than sending it back because of the fear of not getting a full refund. As a customer with Vitality Medical, when you use the product for the first time you may find that it is not what you were looking for. In such a case, you can decide to send it back to us and we would gladly refund you the entire purchase price, provided the product is a returnable item. In this case, you will only be covering the reshipping charges. However, if the product you purchased is defective, then we will either refund your entire purchase price, including shipping fees or replace the defective item.

How to go about returning a product

At Vitality Medical, we strive to provide the best quality products. We pride ourselves in being able to provide products at cheaper rates than our competitors and have enough confidence in our products that we will give a full refund if you are dissatisfied with your purchase. Therefore, unlike our competitors, we have no restocking fees . All you have to do is give us a call during normal business hours or complete an online refund form. You will receive a reply within 72 hours and a Return Authorization (RA) number to ship the product(s) back.

After you receive the RA number, you create a shipping label with the RA number and the return address provided by email or telephone. Make sure to include this address as we have many warehouses from where we ship our medical supply products. Finally send the product back along with its original packaging through the shipping service (USPS, FEDEX, UPS or freight carrier) that delivered the product to your door originally.

Please allow for up to four weeks for processing your return. This includes the 6 to 7 days it will take to receive the shipment, another 4 to 5 days to process it and lastly the time it will take the bank to process a refund request. You will receive your refund within a month from the date you shipped the product back. Details of Vitality Medical's Return Policy and you Order Status can be viewed online at our web site.

Although we do not charge a restocking fee as a policy, there some exceptions outlined below.

1. Every product returned must have the Return Authorization Number.


2. Products must be returned within 30 days of purchase.


3. The safety seals must be in unopened condition.


4. The product must be in new re-marketable condition.


5. The packaging of the product must include all accessories and parts.


6. Some products due to hygiene, sanitation or safety are deemed non-returnable. There will be no refund on the return of such items.

Products not deemed returnable

Some items returnable because of their nature. These items will be marked as non returnable on the web site and also in the product description. To summarize the products that our return policy does not cover, here is a short list.

1. Personal health care items already opened. Only sealed personal health care items may be returned and refunded.


2. Men’s personal health items.


3. All the items marked as Special Order (*SP).


4. All custom items. Items specifically tailored to meet your requirements cannot be returned as they are unique to your needs and may not be marketable to others.

Non-returnable products are essentially products that cannot be resold to another individual. However, if a non-returnable product is shipped due to our error, you may telephone our toll free number (800-397-5899) to resolve the issue. Upon verification of such cases, Vitality Medical will refund the purchase price and shipping charges. We look forward to serving you in all your medical supply needs.

Technorati Code: Q8US2WKRFCMT

How to Check for High Blood Pressure

A global bane

Each year, millions of individuals die due to high blood pressure across the globe. This condition can affect anybody anywhere and at anytime. The devastating global effect of high blood pressure (BP) is due to the direct stress that it puts on the heart muscles and blood vessel walls. Heart attacks, hemorrhage, paralysis and similar ailments are some of the ultimate effects of high blood pressure. High BP effectively reduces your lifespan and is the leading cause for premature deaths.

Understanding Blood Pressure

In biological terms, blood pressure can be effectively defined as the pressure felt by the walls of a blood vessel due to the circulation of blood within them. Blood is pumped by the heart and travels all over the body in blood vessels. The blood pressure is highest near the heart and gradually decreases as the blood moves farther away. The lowest blood pressure is felt in the veins coming back to the heart. Other than distance and type of blood vessel, factors such as gravity, muscle contractions and valve function also influence blood pressure. The blood pressure measurements have a systolic and diastolic reading or a maximum and minimum reading. It generally refers to the reading obtained from just under the arm and above the elbow.

What causes High Blood Pressure

In 10% of all cases, high blood pressure comes about as a symptom of some other primary disease or condition. Kidney diseases such as chronic tumors of the adrenalin glands, birth conditions such as narrow blood vessels, pregnancy, the use of contraceptive pills, excess alcohol intake and thyroid dysfunction are some of the afflictions that always result in high blood pressure. The cure also lies in these diseases. Treating the disease will also bring down the blood pressure. This kind of high blood pressure is called ‘secondary hypertension’. In the remaining high blood pressure cases, the root of high BP is vague. This is called ‘primary hypertension’. Only factors contributing to the condition can be speculated and treated. Even then it will not completely cure high blood pressure.

Symptoms to check for Hypertension

High blood pressure is called ‘the silent killer’ for a reason. It has no symptoms to suggest its arrival. High blood pressure although has no immediate adverse symptoms but always results in health complications down the line. Extended durations of high blood pressure will cut many useful years from one’s life. Symptoms suggesting that there may be high blood pressure can be very misleading and can very easily misinterpreted for some other ailment. Hence, the only way you can check for hypertension is by taking regular blood pressure checkups and by understanding the various causes of hypertension.

Contributing factors to High BP

There are two basic categories of factors that contribute to high blood pressure. The first category is unchangeable factors. Age is the foremost constant factor. Aging blood vessels tend to have stiffer walls. This directly affects the systolic blood pressure. Aging brings about a process called ‘arteriosclerosis’ which is irreversible and leads to high blood pressure. The family history also governs the probability of high blood pressure. A person belonging to a family history of hypertension is subject to higher risks from the same. Other factors such as gender and race also contribute to high blood pressure.

The second is category is changeable categories. Obesity is a major cause of high blood pressure in the modern world. A BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30kg/m2 or more indicates a higher probability of high blood pressure. The excess fat in the body squeezes the blood vessels and heart thus, making the heart beat faster and increasing the blood pressure. Excess sodium in the blood elevates blood pressure. Some people are more susceptible than others to this increase in sodium levels. Pain killers obtained over the counter at pharmacies and fast food are some sources of high sodium. Reducing the intake of these high risk items will help lower blood pressure. Other such contributors include alcoholism and drug addiction.

How to measure blood pressure


The most common method of measuring blood pressure as used by doctors and nurses is also one of the oldest as well. Sphygmomanometer is a device used for a very long time. It measures blood pressure in the artery just on the surface of your bicep. This method was developed in 1876 and uses a Stethoscope. It involves strapping an inflatable cuff over the bicep muscle tightly and inflating it by squeezing a rubber bulb. By using a stethoscope, the examiner listens in on the blood flowing through that area. The inflated cuff is then deflated slowly and the point at which blood flow resumes corresponds to the systolic pressure which is measured using a mercury column. The cuff is slowly loosened until no more sound can be heard. At this point, the mercury column gives the diastolic pressure. A similar device for domestic use is available as well which involves a Digital Blood Pressure Monitor and works on the oscillatory method. There are many more measuring devices available commercially for domestic use that you can find at Vitality Medical. Visit the Blood Pressure Store online to find Automatic & Manual Blood Pressure Monitors, Sphygmomanometers, Aneroid Sphygmomanometers, Blood Pressue Cluffs, and Blood Pressure Accessories.

Steps to control blood pressure

There are two main contributors to blood pressure on a daily basis. They are stress and improper diet. Today’s fast paced life and numerous responsibilities, leads a man to live a stressful life. Taking a few minutes out of the day to do some kind of relaxing activity such as yoga, swimming, gym etc. will help keep the daily stress under check. Taking up a sport on weekends such as golf, tennis, billiard etc. can also reduce stress levels. A lot of people say that they do not get enough time to exercise because of their schedules. Learn to make time for exercising because nothing keeps a check on blood pressure levels like regular physical exercise. Maintain a proper diet on a regular basis. Avoid foods high in sodium and opt for home cooked meals rather than takeout food or fast food. The cholesterol level of your body depends on the kind of food you consume and this directly affects blood pressure. High cholesterol clogs blood vessels by accumulation. For people already suffering from high BP there are many different drugs available over the counter to reduce blood pressure levels and also to keep them in check. Consult your doctor or physician before taking any drugs.

Vitality Medical Oxygen Concentrators

Vitality Medical has an oxygen concentrator to meet every need. With several concentrator models to choose from, there is one to fit your needs and price range.

• DeVilbiss Oxygen Concentrator – This 31 pound oxygen machine offers 5.5 psi in a compact 15” x 23” x 9.5” size. With a sound level of under 45 dBA, this O2 Machine is quiet and offers 5 liters of continuous oxygen flow. The DeVilbiss Oxygen Concentrator comes with a 3 year limited warranty.


• Invacare Perfecto 2 Oxygen Concentrator – This oxygen concentrator weighs 46 pounds and is available only by prescription and costs $852.60. Again it comes with a 5 year limited warranty.


• Sequel Integra 10 EZ Oxygen Concentrator – This unit is used for high flow patients and delivers up to 10 LPM continuously. An internal 9 volt battery enables an alarm to notify the user if there is a power interruption. This unit is priced at $1175. This unit comes with a 3 year manufacturer warranty.


• Respironics Millennium M10 Oxygen Concentrator – This 53 pound unit delivers up to 10 LPM adjustable in 1 liter increments. This unit includes an alarm that indicates high and low system pressure, power failure, and low/no oxygen level. Price is $1300 on this unit.


• Invacare Oxygen Concentrator Platinum 10LPM – This 54 pound unit operates between 2 and 10 LPM. It requires a prescription, offers a 3 year warranty and is priced at $1,666.


• Respironics Everflo Oxygen Concentrator – This 31 pound unit provides 0.5 to 5 LPM and has a low oxygen alarm. With a 3 year warranty this unit is priced at $1852.


• Respironics Everflo Q Oxygen Concentrator – This small compact unit weighs in at 31 pounds and is considered quiet at only 40 decibels. With only two filters to maintain, this item provides up to 5 LPM for $1,902.

Visit Vitality Medical Online Oxygen Concentrators and order your oxygen concentrator today! We ship right to your door and arrival is usually within five business days. These medical oxygen concentrators require a prescription from a physician.

How to Use Kinesio Tape?

What is Kinesio Tape

There are many different varieties of tapes for therapeutic and sports use available in pharmacies. Out of all the choices, the Kinesio Tape is a very popular option. Kinesio tapes were made popular by Chinese athletes in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Although it was around for a long time and used primarily in physiotherapy, it is now being used by athletes and non-athletes as a Sports Tape. It is an elastic tape devoid of any latex. The method of use involves taping it around the muscle area. It is preferred over other type of tapes owing to its versatility. It can be used prior to an activity or during it and even after completion. The fact that it can be used continuously for over two days adds to its popularity. You can buy Kinesio tapes and other similar products from Vitality Medical (vitalitymedical.com) at cheaper rates than other sites and with a zero restocking fee.

Benefits provided by Kinesio Tape

Kinesio Tape is used by athletes to avoid injuries during activity and to soothe muscle pain. The taping method employed ensures that the muscles are slightly constricted. This condition allows blood flow to that area of muscle and joints to increase. When used after an activity, the taping rejuvenates tired muscles. But when it is used prior to an activity, it works by strengthening week or fatigued muscles. During the activity, the taping helps in improving performance by increasing awareness of the taped area while reducing sensation at the same time.

Mechanism of Action

Kinesio tapes work by tightening the skin through convoluting it. This in turn sooths the nerves and skin sensors which reducing edema, inflation and helps in relaxing the muscles. In case of fatigued muscles, the mechanism involves soothing sensory receptors so as to reduce the pain experienced during movement. It aids in rejuvenation of tired muscles by increasing blood flow to that area.

Kinesio Tape for Tennis Elbow

Tennis Elbow is a very common injury faced by a large number of people. It can be really frustrating for a person suffering from this problem as it restricts the movement of the arm and also its strength. Kinesio tape is light weight and can be used as a support to the arm and it also helps to reduce inflammation. Start off by cutting a length of Kinesio tape corresponding to the length of your arm starting from the wrist to an inch below the elbow. Split this tape into two length wise by cutting through the middle and stop an inch from the end. You will end up with a Y shaped strip of tape. Next, apply the un-split end to your wrist by wrapping it around with no extra stretching. Next, use one of the long arms of the tape to wrap all the way up to the elbow, all the while slightly stretching the tape. Make sure to rub the tape so that the adhesive can set. Finally apply the last remaining long strip of the Y shaped Kinesio tape parallel to the other long strip so that the forearm is completely covered up to the elbow. Finally cut a small inch sized Kinesio tape and apply it to the end near the elbow as an anchor. Make sure to stretch it completely while applying so as to make a seal. With the taping completed, move the arm around and see if it has reduced the pain. With proper application and regular use of this tape, Tennis Elbow can easily be controlled and treated.

Scoliosis control through Kinesio tape

Scoliosis is an affliction of the spine muscles which leads to a curvature of the back and can be quite painful. It is often brought about by accidents or genetic inheritance or even diseases such as Polio. Although it cannot be cured completely, the pain it causes can be reduced considerably with the use of Kinesio taping. A mild case of Scoliosis can be easily controlled by just using tapes. Since the signs of Scoliosis include an unbalanced shoulder level or hip level, you can use Kinesio tape to provide extra support to the shoulder which is at a higher level than the other. To do this start taping from the shoulder area near to the neck region and extend up to the end of the shoulder blade. In case of an unbalanced hip, you will require a V shaped tape. Apply this tape to the higher of both sides of the hip by starting from the waist with the pointed end of the tape and moving upwards towards the ribcage with the two arms of V tape. This should provide enough support to the spine and keep the hip balanced. Along with these methods, you can also tape your waist to provide extra support to the spine. You can also tape from shoulder to the hip in a straight line on the side with the lower of the two shoulders. This will stretch the compressed muscles. Incase Scoliosis appears in the upper part of the spine then tape across it to provide support and correct posture. Although Scoliosis is not a curable affliction; in mild cases, it can be completely controlled using Kinesio tape.

General Applications

You can put Kinesio Tape to the same use in everyday use as well. For fatigued muscles and sprains you can apply a pain relieving spray to the area and then wrap it up with Kinesio tape as you would for a tennis elbow and let it stay for a couple of days. When using Kinesio tapes, remember that you can wrap tightly by stretching the tape to 40% of its capacity only over the joint areas. For the Muscle areas, you can stretch it up to a maximum of 20%. Anymore than this would result in over-constriction of the blood vessels below the skin and thus, numb the muscles beyond use. Other than the general applications of Kinesio tape mentioned above, it is also used by physiotherapists to alleviate a large number of muscle and nerve related afflictions. In the sporting world, it is used to alleviate knee pains experienced by runners, neck pains faced by swimmers, ankle sprains faced by soccer players and in other ball games such as tennis, basketball, baseball etc. The possibilities of Kinesio tape are limitless. When used in the right manner it can be used to reduce and alleviate muscle pain without taking any form of sedatives of pain relievers.

Kinesio Tape is available at Vitality Medical. This tape comes in assorted colors and sizes to fit individual needs and preferences. Illustrated manuals and a Kinesio DVD are available to help learn the taping techniques. Discount Kinesio Tape at prices you can afford! Vitality Medical also carries a variety of other Medical Tapes and Adhesives.

How to Potty Train Dogs with Disposable Underpads

When you get a new puppy, one of the most frustrating things that you have to deal with is potty training. Chasing your puppy around the house and constantly cleaning up messes gets very frustrating. Sometimes it seems more convenient to leave the dog in a cage to limit the mess to one area. However, even cleaning up urine and feces from a cage is no fun.

There are a number of effective methods for potty training puppies. Some people put down newspapers in the cage and in a limited location within the house and train the puppy to use this area only for pottying. While this does limit the size of the area to be cleaned, it is still not a pleasant task to tend.

While newspapers and paper towels make cleaning up feces much easier, these items provide very little protection from urine seeping through onto linoleum or carpet. This results in the need to constantly mop and steam clean. Cloth towels require manually removing feces and continually laundering the towels. Many people do not think that it is very sanitary to wash urine and feces covered in the same washing machine that they use for their delicates.

Disposable Underpads that are available online over the Internet are a terrific alternative to towels, newspapers and paper towels. Substituting the disposable under pads for towels or newspapers saves the dog owner much cleanup and frustration. These underpads contain the mess and prevent leak through. The term disposable says it all. You can simply roll up the messy Underpad and replace it with a fresh one. This saves steam cleaning, moping and constant scrubbing since there is no leak through mess due to the waterproof barrier.

Once the puppy is trained you may think that there is no longer a need to use these underpads. The truth is that it is always handy to have these available. Should you leave the house for an extended period of time, it is a good idea to have a pad available in case your dog is unable to wait to potty until you get home. It is also useful to keep them in the cage if you use it for the dog's bed. Even adolescent dogs may have an occasional accident if you oversleep in the morning.

There are several reputable manufacturers and brands of disposable underpads – TENA Disposable Underpads, Kendall Durasorb Underpad, Tendersorb Underpad, Tranquility Disposable Underpads, STA-PUT, Attends, Principle Business, First Quality, SCA Underpads, Prevail, Kimberly Clark, Hartman USA, and Covidien Underpads. Each of the underpads are available online at Vitality Medical.

In summary, it is much cheaper and effective to use disposable underpads than to constantly wash floors and steam clean carpets. It is certainly much less frustrating to take care of messes on the disposable underpads than on towels or newspapers. When you count the cost, both financially and time wise, you will certainly see that the disposable underpads are a great alternative for potty training dogs.

What is an Oxygen Concentrator and How Does It Work?

In layman’s terms, an oxygen concentrator is the scientifically and technologically advanced form of oxygen tanks. An oxygen concentrator is an apparatus that is used to supply oxygen therapy to a patient. This oxygen therapy has significantly higher concentrations of oxygen than ambient air, or the surrounding air that is commonly breathed. In comparison to tanks of compressed oxygen, oxygen concentrators are safer, cheaper, and more convenient. These devices are also used to provide a cost-effective source of oxygen for industrial processes as well.

A typical medical oxygen concentrator provides a continual supply of oxygen. It generally has two cylinders filled with zeolite material. The zeolite material, a hydrous aluminum silicate mineral, selectively absorbs the nitrogen from the air. The air cycles through one cylinder, which is where the nitrogen molecules are apprehended by the zeolite material. The other cylinder allows the captured nitrogen to dissipate as it is vented off to ambient atmospheric pressure.

Most units provide a continuous supply of oxygen of up to five liters per minute (LPM). The concentration is usually between 50 and 95 percent. This process is referred to as PSA, or pressure swing absorption. Oxygen concentrators that provide up to 10 LPM are available for high flow patients.

These oxygen concentrators are a great alternative to the traditional oxygen tanks that many patients use. It provides the necessary oxygen without the high cost or safety hazards associated with traditional oxygen tanks. It also provides significant cost savings when used in various industrial processes. Even patients that require high flow units can obtain devices that are not much larger or heavier than the typical 5 LPM units. These units also provide patients with much more mobility and freedom.

Medical oxygen concentrators can be divided into two major divisions--home oxygen concentrators and portable oxygen concentrators. Home oxygen concentrators are larger and are used mainly at home or care facility. Portable oxygen concentrators are lightweight and can be used at home, traveling or for people who are still living an active life. Vitality Medical carries the top selling oxygen concentrators that you can purchase at discount prices, including oxygen masks, oxygen tubing and cannula. To purchase an oxygen concentrator, you must have a doctor's prescription. Get rid of those heavy oxygen tanks today and call Vitality Medical at 800-397-58899 to order your new oxygen concentrator today.

Compression Support Hosiery

Compression Support Hosiery Helps Lymphedema

When most people are diagnosed with lymphedema, they don’t even know what it is. Often there is shock and concern about how to deal with it. Luckily, there are many compression support hosiery products from VitalityMedical.com that can help.

Lymphedema is simply swelling caused by lymph fluid collecting in certain areas of the body. This typically occurs in the limbs. Lymphedema occurs when the lymphatic system, which acts as the body’s sewage system, fails for some reason. There can be many causes, but the most common cause is cancer and its treatment.

When the lymphatic system stops functioning properly, the lymph fluid is unable to get pumped through the body and as a result, it accumulates. Most often lymphedema begins in the hands or feet, with noticeable swelling. If this swelling persists it can be a sign of lymphedema, and left untreated it can spread throughout the entire limb and lead to more serious complications.

Common sufferers of lymphedema include patients recovering from surgery or trauma, those with cellulitis, post mastectomy patients, as well cancer patients. Women suffering from breast cancer are likely to get lymphedema of the arm on the affected side. Pelvic surgery also is a common cause of lymphedema in the leg. Any impairment of the lymphatic system that dramatically reduces the capacity to move the lymph fluid can lead to lymphedema.

Combating Lymphedema

The most common treatment for lymphedema is compression support hosiery. These compression garments come in several styles determined by the area of the body affected. Support hosiery helps alleviate the swelling by compressing the affected area and helping to force the lymph fluid through the body.

The lymphatic system relies on muscle movement to pump the lymph fluid, so movement or exercise is important. But that is not’t always enough. That is where a compression garment becomes a necessity.

For lymphedema in the leg, there are several varieties of compression support stockings.

When swelling in the arms occurs, there are arm sleeves, gauntlets, and gloves.

Mediven Lymphedema Arm Sleeve

Mediven Lymphedema Gauntlet

Mediven Lymphedema Glove

When it comes to diagnosing lymphedema, your doctor will usually recommend a compression garment and give you a prescription. But it is important to make sure you get the correct support hosiery and it is also critical to get the correct size.

A compression sleeve, for instance, is used to help eliminate swelling in the arm. It works by encouraging lymph flow from the pressure it applies to the affected arm. Moving your arm under this pressure aids the movement of the fluid, so it is important to make sure you have a correctly sized compression garment.

VitalityMedical.com provides compression hosiery sizing guides for all of the compression garments available. To insure you get the correct size, follow the guidelines on which measurements are needed and where and how the measurements are to be taken.

Mediven Lymphedema Sleeve, Gauntlets, Gloves

	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII
Hand	6″-6¼” 15-16 cm	6¼”-7½” 16-19 cm	7″-8¼” 18-21 cm	8″-9″ 20-23 cm	8¾-9¾ 22-25 cm	9½”-10¾” 24-27 cm	10¼”-11½” 26-29 cm
Wrist	4¾”-5 1/8″ 12-13 cm	5″-6″ 13-15 cm	6″-6¾” 15-17 cm	6¾”-7½” 17-19 cm	7½”-8¼”-9″ 21-23 cm	8¼-9″ 21-23 cm	9″-9¾” 23-25 cm
Elbow	6¾”-8¾ 17-22 cm	8″-10¼ 20-26 cm	9″-11½ 23-29 cm	10¼”-12½” 26-32 cm	11½”-13¾” 29-35 cm	12½”-15″ 32-38 cm	13¾”-16¼” 35-41 cm
Upper Arm	7½”-9¾” 19-25 cm	8″-11½” 22-29 cm	9¾”-12½” 25-32 cm	11½”-14¼” 29-36 cm	13″-15¾” 33-40 cm	14½”-17¼” 37-44 cm	16¼”-19″ 41-48 cm

In order for you to get the most out of your compression garments, it is important to follow the care instructions the manufacturers supply. Depending on usage and care, compression garments will last several months. However, over time, the elasticity breaks down, and once that happens the amount of compression decreases and the garment’s effectiveness decreases dramatically.

Combating Varicose veins

Varicose veins are another common problem helped by compression hosiery. Varicose veins are caused by the failure of the one-way valves in the veins. As blood is pumped through the veins on its way back to the heart, it passes through one-way valves that keep the blood from flowing backward. Unfortunately, some of these valves fail resulting in the blood pooling behind these failed valves.

In addition to varicose veins being unsightly, they can also be very painful. Compression socks can help in pumping the blood through these compromised veins and help keep the appearance of varicose veins from getting worse.

Lymphedema and painful varicose veins do not have to keep you from normal daily function. It is manageable and controllable with the use of compression support hosiery from Vitality Medical.

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For 12 years, at Vitality Medical, we have delivered on our promise to sell top quality medical supplies at the best prices on the Web.

Hospital Beds – What You Need To Know Before You Get Yours!

Joerns 530 Hospital Bed Package

The Home Care Need is Growing

When a patient needs care, there are several options available. Hospital Care is the most comprehensive and the most expensive, a Skilled Nursing Facility is less expensive can handle most medical needs short of surgery, and Home Care can be the least expensive but usually requires more work from a relative who is the primary caregiver. If you choose to care for your family in your home, a Hospital Bed could be one of the most valuable investments you can make.

The Skilled Nursing Facility population has been decreasing since it’s peak in the mid 90’s. People are getting healthier. When they are sick, they are cared for in the home more often than they were in the past. The 2004 Caregiving in the U.S. survey, sponsored by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP, documented the prevalence of caregiving in the US. The study found that more than one in five US households are informal caregivers for a person older than age 18. The typical caregiver is a 46 year old woman with at least some college experience who provides more than 20 hours of care each week to her mother.

At Vitality Medical, we have helped hundreds of people select the right Hospital Bed.

Why Buy Instead of Rent?

There are several places where one may rent a Hospital Patient Bed. They may fulfill your needs if those needs include a brief 1-2 month rental. But for the long term, you may be money ahead in purchasing a new Patient Bed. When you buy, instead of rent, there are several advantages. Here are four:

1. Your bed is new.
2. You own an asset that is resalable.
3. You save money in the long run versus renting.
4. You get the features you want instead of just what is available.

It’s New– Although a rental agency would probably repair any breakdowns in the motors or some other part, the likelihood of a new bed breaking down is significantly less than a used rental Hospital Bed. And no repairs means no inconvenience. The new beds have their full warranties available and new technologies applied to increase their durability. If you find yourself stuck in a rental bed, because of your insurance or for some other reason, do yourself a favor and at least buy a clean new mattress for the bed.

You Own– The Hospital Bed is a commodity in increasing demand. The number of people in a nursing home type of care facility is decreasing and has been since it’s peak in the mid 90’s. There are approximately 7.6 million individuals currently receiving care from 83,000 providers because of acute illness, long-term health conditions, permanent disability, or terminal illness. Once you don’t need it, most people can quickly and easily sell their hospital bed using an online service like craigslist.

You Save– Based on the places I called while researching this blog, the initial month’s Hospital Bed rent is between $225 and $350. The first month includes the set-up. The ongoing monthly rental is $200-$300. The last month’s rental is more to allow for pick-up, also between $225-$350. Since Vitality Medical does not rent hospital beds, we can estimate a year’s worth of bed rental at the high end-$3700. Or, if you are lucky, on the low end you can rent for $2450-ouch! The Invacare Semi Electric Hospital Bed Value Package with Innerspring Mattress is only $667.84 (on 9/22/2008); so the savings with a basic bed is obvious.

You Get– As our population ages rental Hospital Beds become more and more scarce. In researching the blog, one of the places I called in Arizona gave me pricing and told me they were out of Hospital Beds through the end of the year. So the other big advantage of buying over renting is a) actually getting a bed when you want it, b) you get all the features you want, and only the features you want.

Graham Field Whisperlite II Semi-Electric Hospital Bed

And speaking of Hospital Bed features, there are several different Hospital Bed configurations and options to choose from. In next weeks blog, I will highlight the different features to consider when choosing a hospital bed for your home.

For 8 years, at Vitality Medical, we have delivered on our promise to sell top quality medical supplies at some of the best prices on the Web.