Supplemental Oxygen

Why is supplemental oxygen prescribed?

People with COPD may have low levels of oxygen and need extra or supplemental oxygen to raise their oxygen to a healthier level.
Supplemental oxygen helps to protect the body and allows patients to function better and stay active.

Importance of Supplemental Oxygen

With use of supplemental oxygen, you can improve:

Energy and breathing
Sleep and mood
Mental alertness
Body’s ability to carry out normal functions

Oxygen therapy can decrease:

Morning headaches
Sleepiness
Irritability Breathlessness

Oxygen therapy can also help you lead a more active lifestyle by allowing you the freedom to move about.

Oxygen Therapy Choices:

A common fear among many oxygen users is running out of oxygen. In the last few years, several medical device manufactures have developed new products that allow users to be away from home much longer than previously possible without the fear of running out of oxygen.

Known as portable oxygen concentrators, these newer devices work the same as a stationary concentrator but weigh only 5 to 20 pounds, are battery operated, can be plugged into an AC outlet, and will also operate via an automobile’s battery or other DC power source. Most of these devices can be used in a car, boat or plane and they never have to be filled.

Stationary oxygen concentrators

Weigh 30 to 60 pounds
Produce oxygen by concentrating oxygen from room air
Do not require filling
Plug into electrical outlet

Compressed gas

When a person with COPD wants to go shopping, visit a friend, or take a walk, he or she needs an oxygen device that is portable and lighter than a stationary concentrator.

Historically, the most common portable oxygen choice was compressed gas tanks. The tanks come in different sizes and hold anywhere from 113 to 680 gaseous liters of oxygen. The only downside to compressed tanks is that they run out of oxygen and need to be refilled.

To allow the tank of oxygen to last longer, an oxygen conserving device (OCD) may be added to the tank by your provider. An OCD releases a flow of oxygen only during inhalation. This intermittent oxygen flow conserves oxygen and extends the time an oxygen cylinder will last. The use of an OCD must be carefully evaluated to meet individual user needs.

Stored in gas cylinders
Use inside or outside of the home
Portable Refilled by home medical equipment companies or by user
Available in large or small tanks
Use an oxygen conserving device (OCD)

Equipment choice is generally based on the following:

Prescription (example 2 LPM)
Physical activity level
Amount of travel
Type of insurance

Oxygen Safety Tips

NO SMOKING while using oxygen
Avoid open flame
Treat oxygen as if it were a drug.
Do not change your prescription without talking to your doctor.
Do not try to service your oxygen equipment.
If you encounter a problem contact your homecare provider.