Oxygen therapy: Using oxygen at home
What is oxygen therapy?
Oxygen therapy is a way to increase the amount of oxygen in the lungs and the bloodstream. It is sometimes used for people with diseases that make it hard to breathe, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, or heart failure. Oxygen therapy can make it easier to breathe and reduce the heart’s workload.
Some people need extra oxygen all the time. Others need it from time to time throughout the day or overnight. A doctor will prescribe how much oxygen you need, based on blood tests. He or she will tell you how much oxygen to use per minute (flow rate) and how often to use it.
To breathe the oxygen, most people use a nasal cannula (say “KAN-yuh-luh”), a thin tube with two prongs that fit inside your nostrils. Children and people who need high levels of oxygen may need to use a mask that fits over the nose and mouth.
Oxygen can be delivered to your home in tanks, or cylinders, or it can be produced in your home by a machine called an oxygen concentrator. Your doctor will help you choose the source that fits your needs. A combination of methods may be the best choice. Some people use a concentrator at home, keep a large oxygen tank on hand as a backup, and have small tanks for use outside the home.
Oxygen in tanks comes in two forms:
- Compressed oxygen gas. Tanks of oxygen gas come in several sizes. Small tanks can be carried when you leave home. Large tanks are heavy and are usually not moved after they are placed in the home.
- Liquid oxygen. Oxygen takes up less space in liquid form than as a gas. Compared to tanks of oxygen gas, tanks of liquid oxygen weigh less and hold more oxygen, so they may be a good choice for people who are active.
Oxygen concentrators are machines that take in regular air (which is about 21% oxygen), remove the other gases, and produce oxygen that is up to 95% pure. Most concentrators are about the size of a kitchen garbage can and weigh from 30 lb (15 kg) to 50 lb (25 kg).
Oxygen concentrators don't need to be refilled like oxygen tanks do, so they may cost less and be more convenient. But unlike an oxygen tank, a concentrator runs on electricity, so you will need an oxygen tank as a backup in case the power goes out.
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| Author: | Debby Golonka, MPH | Last Updated: June 26, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Susanna McColley, MD - Pediatric Pulmonology | |
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