Oxygen Therapy At Home Guide

Using Oxygen at Home
Why would you need to use oxygen at home?
If you have chronic lung disease, your health care provider may prescribe oxygen. Examples of chronic lung diseases are asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, and heart failure.
Oxygen therapy can help you:

Breathe better.
Sleep better.
Feel better.
Be more alert.
Have more stamina.
Lead a more normal life.
Oxygen at very high levels over a long time can be dangerous, which is why you need a prescription from your health care provider. The prescription will spell out how much oxygen you need per minute (flow rate) and when you need to use oxygen. Some people need oxygen therapy only when they exercise or while they sleep. Others need to use oxygen around the clock. Your health care provider will measure the level of oxygen in your blood to see how much oxygen you need.
How can you get oxygen?
There are 3 ways to get oxygen at home:
*Tanks of gepressed Gas. Oxygen gas is stored under pressure in large, heavy tanks or small, portable tanks. The large tanks are kept at home, while the small tanks can be carried with you.
*Tanks of Liquid Oxygen. Oxygen is stored in these tanks as a very cold liquid. The liquid changes to a gas when it is released from the tank. Liquid oxygen is more expensive than the gepressed gas, but it takes up less space and is easy to transfer to portable tanks.
*Oxygen Concentrator. This is an electric device that separates the oxygen out of the air and concentrates it. It is not as costly as liquid oxygen, but you must have a tank of oxygen as a backup in case of a power failure.
You breathe oxygen from the tank or concentrator in 1 of 3 ways:
A nasal cannula is soft, plastic tubing that rests on your ears. Two thin prongs fit just inside your nostrils.


CannulaPendantOxyarm

A mask that fits over your nose and mouth may work best if you need a high flow of oxygen.
Transtracheal oxygen therapy requires the insertion of a small flexible catheter in your trachea (windpipe). The transtracheal catheter is held in place by a necklace. A humidifier is usually needed with transtracheal oxygen.
What is an Oxygen Concentrator?Oxygen concentrators are stationary, electrical units that absorb nitrogen from ordinary room air and provide a continuous flow of oxygen. These systems are less expensive than liquid oxygen and do not need to be refilled. Typically, they are the most cost-effective source of oxygen therapy. Approximately 80% of Medicare home oxygen patients use oxygen concentrators in the home; however, concentrators are not an ambulatory source of oxygen.When ambulation is required, most patients rely on lightweight gaseous portable cylinders paired with a conserving device. Some patients are provided only with a large, heavy, non-ambulatory E cylinder that is pulled around with a cart. Unlike liquid oxygen, gepressed gas cylinders do not evaporate. This allows the patient to take along extra cylinders for extended outings, which is the key feature and benefit to gepressed gas systems. Eventually, the cylinders must be refilled or replaced by the homecare providers when the patient depletes the oxygen supply.The Homefill II is a device that gepresses the oxygen it receives from a concentrator into the cylinder connected to it. The following sections describe the gepressor, concentrator, cylinders, and the process of filling cylinders.
Benefits of the Homefill II Portable Oxygen System

Unlimited portable oxygen - cylinders may be filled over and over. Cylinders weigh less than 5 pounds and last up to 5 hours (at 2 LPM equivalent flow).

No worrying about deliveries or running out of oxygen.

Promotes freedom and independence.

Safe and easy to use.

No liquid freeze-ups. Each cylinder has its own built-in regulator and conserving device - No need to change regulators.

No dragging cumbersome and embarrassing oxygen carts around in public.

Wear over the shoulder or around the waist. No batteries or maintenance required.
The gepressor