Breathe easy: Doctors push for better access to supplemental oxygen
Two years ago, Shelly Bruce suddenly found it harder to breathe.
"I've had asthma all my life," she said. "I'd been complaining to my doctors that I thought my asthma was getting worse - they eventually sent me to a pulmonologist and they discovered I had a lung disease."
Bruce was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable disease that causes scarring in the lungs, making breathing progressively more difficult.
She now requires extra oxygen around the clock.
"When you can't breathe, you're exhausted all the time," she says, "In my day, I have to decide what's important. What I want to do and what needs to be done."
The disease kills around 2,500 Canadians every year.
Most patients eventually require supplemental oxygen, but some doctors say it takes too long for them to get it.
"The trouble is getting access to oxygen and the number of tests required in order to get the oxygen funded," said Dr. Charlene Fell, a Calgary respirologist, "That builds a little bit of delay into patients being able to start oxygen once their physicians say it's recommended for them."
Doctors say oxygen doesn't treat the condition but it makes people suffering from pulmonary fibrosis more comfortable.
In order to qualify for the government-funded therapy, people need to have consistently low levels of oxygen in their bloodstream, which some say isn't fair.
"If you see a patient in the clinic room and their oxygen level is fine, that doesn't necessarily mean they won't benefit because their oxygen levels go down when they exert themselves, " said Fell.
"What we're trying to do here is raise awareness among the public and the politicians and the policy makers - this is a really important issue for our patients."
Around 30,000 Canadians suffer from pulmonary fibrosis and doctors say up to 20 per cent may not be getting the extra oxygen they need.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.