Oxygen Therapy for Pneumonia

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a respiratory illness in which the air sacs of the lungs become infected. The air sacs become filled with fluid, which then can undermine normal breathing. A range of bacteria and viruses getting into the lungs causes pneumonia.

While most healthy people combat these germs with a robust immune system, weaker individuals can be overcome depending on the severity of the illness. Pneumonia can range from mild to life-threatening depending on the seriousness of the infection and the health of the pneumonia patient.

Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia

Indications that you have pneumonia include:

• Chest pain when you breathe or cough
• Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older)
• Cough, which may produce phlegm
• Fatigue
• Fever, sweating and shaking chills
• Lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than age 65 and people with weak immune systems)
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Shortness of breath

Having any or all of these symptoms make it difficult for your lungs to expand while you're inhaling and therefore to fully breathe as well. It is very important to see your doctor if you have severe symptoms that are worsening your everyday life.

Oxygen Therapy for Pneumonia

Patients recovering from this illness usually require extensive bed rest and plenty of fluids to rejuvenate the body’s weakened immune system. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection. If the infection has seriously compromised lung function, your doctor may also recommend oxygen therapy to assist with breathing.

Supplemental oxygen can help the lungs weakened by infection to perform normally. The benefit of supplemental oxygen as a treatment is that it can be easily conducted at home without additional medical assistance. 

How to Diagnose if Pneumonia Patients Need Oxygen Therapy

Doctors will determine if a case of pneumonia is severe enough to warrant oxygen therapy. Most likely, if you are hospitalized because of pneumonia, the infection is probably serious, and you will most likely receive oxygen therapy on-site along with intravenous fluids and antibiotics to manage the infection.

If the infection persists after an extended period of time but appears to be diminishing, a doctor may recommend continuing oxygen therapy at home to aid breathing while recovering.

How to Treat Pneumonia Using Oxygen Therapy

Once at home, a doctor will prescribe you with supplemental oxygen to continue treatment of pneumonia. This means that you will need to invest in an oxygen concentrator. The doctor will prescribe a recommended flow setting so you know how much oxygen to use at any time. However, too much oxygen can be harmful and patients risk overusing oxygen. Following the recommended flow from the doctor is the best and also most efficient way to continue supplemental oxygen therapy safely and effectively.

The doctor will also recommend the amount of time you use oxygen therapy. You will need to use supplemental oxygen only to assist difficulty breathing while you recover.

Other Types of Oxygen Therapy Breathing Treatment for Pneumonia

Oxygen for treating pneumonia is available in two forms: Invasive ventilator oxygen, and nasal cannula oxygen.

Invasive ventilator oxygen. This type of oxygen therapy is only available in a hospital setting. Medical professionals will insert a tube in the trachea to assist breathing. This strategy for treating pneumonia will only be implemented in the most serious cases.

Nasal cannula oxygen. This type of oxygen therapy allows patients to breathe pure oxygen through a non-invasive nasal tube. This is the type of oxygen therapy that patients can conduct on their own at home using oxygen thanks or an oxygen concentrator.

Where Can I Buy an Oxygen Concentrator for Oxygen Therapy for Pneumonia?

Oxygen concentrators are the preferred choice for oxygen therapy for pneumonia. Oxygen concentrators convert ambient air into pure oxygen. This approach is more convenient than oxygen tanks, which need to be replenished on a regular basis. You can find oxygen concentrators from the comfort of your own home online. The knowledgeable staff at The Oxygen Concentrator Supplies Shop can help you shop online for the best oxygen concentrator to manage your pneumonia.