Home oxygen therapy is prescribed for some patients who have low oxygen in their blood and need more oxygen than is available from room air alone. Low blood oxygen may be due to a number of chronic, mainly respiratory, conditions. For example, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Liquid oxygen is a good option for people who need high leader flows of oxygen. Usually greater than six liters per minute. This type of oxygen therapy uses pure oxygen.

✵ Compressed Gas. Oxygen is stored under pressure in a cylinder equipped with a regulator that controls the flow rate. Because the flow of oxygen out of the cylinder is constant, an oxygen- conserving device may be attached to the system to avoid waste.

Summary: Compare the Best Home Oxygen Concentrators of 2023

Giving yourself oxygen without talking to a doctor first may do more harm than good. You may end up taking too much or too little oxygen. Deciding to use an oxygen concentrator without a prescription can lead to serious health problems, such as oxygen toxicity caused by receiving too much oxygen.

Overview: Qualifying for Home Oxygen Be evaluated by a doctor, in-person. Have a medical record that documents your need for oxygen therapy. Show diminished oxygen saturation on an arterial blood gas study. Receive a prescription from a qualified healthcare professional.

It can help support your body during stressful times and increase oxygenation if you live or work in a polluted area or at high altitude. It may also aid oxygen deficiency symptoms, including fatigue, weakness, muscle aches and impaired cognitive function.

Oxygen therapy is generally safe, but it can cause side effects. They include a dry or bloody nose, tiredness, and morning headaches. Oxygen poses a fire risk, so you should never smoke or use flammable materials when using oxygen. If you use oxygen tanks, make sure your tank is secured and stays upright.

Whether it is a larger compressed oxygen tank or a small portable oxygen tank with liquid oxygen, oxygen tanks have a finite amount of oxygen within them, which is inhaled by the user until it runs out. Oxygen concentrators, on the other hand, filter and concentrate the surrounding air, generating medical-grade oxygen.

Liquid oxygen takes up less space than oxygen in its gas form, making it easier and lighter to carry around. Liquid oxygen tanks are safer compared to compressed gas cylinders because they are under lower pressure.

Concentrators are designed for continuous operation and can produce oxygen 24 hours, seven days per week. They can run for up to five years or more with minimal repair and maintenance.

Deciding to use an oxygen concentrator without a prescription can lead to serious health problems, such as oxygen toxicity caused by receiving too much oxygen.

Some people with chronic conditions need supplemental oxygen for life, while others need it temporarily until they recover from an acute (short-term) illness. You should follow your healthcare provider's instructions. Depending on your specific health needs, you may need oxygen therapy 24 hours a day.

Oxygen Safety Precautions

• Notify the fire department and the electric company that you are using oxygen.
• Place “Oxygen in Use” signs in visible areas.
• Never place the tank or machine near an open flame (e.g., matches, lit candles, a stove in use).
• Always turn your oxygen off when not in use.

Handle with extreme caution. * Contact with liquid Oxygen can cause severe skin and eye irritation and burns as well as frostbite. * Breathing pure Oxygen at high pressures can cause nausea, dizziness, muscle twitching, vision loss, convulsions (fits), and loss of consciousness.

Liquid oxygen is a good option for people who need high liter flows of oxygen, usually greater than 6 liters per minute. This type of oxygen therapy uses pure oxygen which is compressed and frozen and then placed into metal cylinders. A liquid oxygen system consists of a stationary unit and a portable device.