Oxygen therapy is for patients who need supplemental oxygen due to COPD and other respiratory illnesses. The extra oxygen from therapy will help you feel better and stay safe. Oxygen therapy helps those who have low oxygen in their blood. With the use of oxygen therapy, those with respiratory illnesses will be able to breathe better, not get as "winded" when performing physical activities, have increased stamina, and more.
Managing a respiratory illness requires due diligence on the part of patients. They may be expected to conduct tests at home that might be typically done in a doctor’s office. However, being part of the solution also empowers patients to maintain higher standards of care for themselves and stay alert of any health changes.
Emphysema is a chronic respiratory and lung condition that affects roughly 3 million Americans. It is one of the respiratory conditions classified as COPD and is most common among men between the ages of 50 and 70. While it is a progressive illness without a cure, it is entirely preventable. Understanding the cause, stages and treatment of emphysema gives anyone with a diagnosis the best i...
As the country begins to ease travel restrictions, folks are planning trips and vacations again. For patients who rely on portable oxygen therapy, this means ensuring proper travel preparations are made. For example, folks visiting US National Parks should consider a few things: elevation, available power sources, and operating temperature. Here is our list of things to consider when trave...
When patients with respiratory illness need assistance breathing, oxygen concentrators are often the solution. They allow patients to manage their respiratory care at home, and on the go with portable oxygen concentrators.
To understand hyperventilation, you need to understand how the respiratory system works. The networks of tissues and organs that make up the respiratory system ensure oxygen delivery throughout the body and waste gases such as carbon dioxide are removed.
Most healthy people take oxygen for granted. Unfortunately, breathing easily and without assistance is not a privilege everyone enjoys. More than 1.5 million adults suffering from respiratory disorders in the United States use supplemental oxygen as a means to improve their quality of life.1 Others don’t realize that they could benefit from oxygen therapy. So what are the signs that a...
When you use oxygen therapy to treat a respiratory illness, you must be aware of the side effects of too much oxygen. Breathing in too much supplemental oxygen, referred to as oxygen toxicity can occur whether you use an oxygen concentrator or oxygen tank. Know the signs and symptoms and what to do if you take too much oxygen.
What Is Oxygen Toxicity?
Oxygen toxicity occurs when peop...
Oxygen concentrators can be costly, with prices ranging from $800 to $1,500 or beyond. That’s why many suffering from respiratory illnesses may look to used oxygen concentrators to save money. But when it comes to personal health, secondhand medical equipment is not always the best choice.
Cons of Buying Used Oxygen Concentrator
One of the main concerns when purchasing used equipment...
The clinical definition of shortness of breath is dyspnea. The average adult can take up to 30,000 breaths a day, so compromised breathing is acutely felt, even over a short period of time. While physical exertion or a cold may make breathing difficult temporarily, long-term dyspnea is often a sign of a more serious illness.
If you depend on oxygen therapy you are probably using either pulse dose or continuous flow, or a combination of both. Continuous flow is often a choice for many respiratory patientswho have a higher oxygen need. Some respiratory conditions may require continuous flow to make healthy breathing more manageable.
Hyperinflated lungs cannot exhale air normally. As a result, air becomes trapped inside the lungs, expanding their size, and making it difficult to breathe out. Hyperinflated lungs mean you do not get enough fresh air which is needed for healthy respiration.
This post was updated from its original version on June 7, 2021.
Oftentimes, patients use the terms “oxygen concentrator” and “oxygen tank” interchangeably due to the fact that they both deliver supplemental oxygen. However, both these products are completely different—from the device itself to the way they deliver oxygen to the device itself and associated safety concerns. Here’s a bre...
