Q: How does a doctor determine if a patient needs home oxygen therapy?
A: The need for home oxygen therapy is determined by measuring the level of oxygen in an individual’s blood. If the test reveals the blood oxygen level is significantly below normal, home oxygen therapy may be prescribed.
Q: How long do patients use oxygen at home?
A: Some people are given additional oxygen temporarily, while others require it on a long-term basis. The physician will determine how long a patient should receive oxygen, how much should be received and whether it is to be delivered continuously or less than 24 hours a day.
Q: Does oxygen help treat the disease causing low oxygen levels?
A: Not directly, since the damage caused by emphysema and other lung diseases are irreversible. However, by increasing the amount of oxygen inhaled into the lungs, more oxygen can be delivered to tissues and cells throughout the body. This relieves many adverse symptoms associated with low blood oxygen levels and improves the overall quality of life.
Q: Can a person receive too much oxygen?
A: Yes. Too much oxygen can be as dangerous as not receiving enough. It can make you tired and sleepy and, in some cases, even block your ability to know when to take the next breath. For that reason, it is important to use only the prescribed amount.
Q: What are some noticeable changes one may see with a patient receiving home oxygen?
A: They will sleep better, be less irritable, remember better, have more energy and suffer fewer depressions. They tolerate exercise better and usually face fewer hospitalization days. In general, these patients live happier, more productive lives.
Q: How will the patient know when the patient no longer needs oxygen?
A: Unfortunately, once the underlying condition exists, the need for oxygen to relieve symptoms usually remains. However, the doctor may use several different methods, such as blood test, oximetry or testing pulmonary functions to determine the patient’s capability to properly oxygenate themselves without oxygen.
Q: What is an oxygen concentrator?
A: An oxygen concentrator is an electrically operated device that draws in room air, separates the oxygen from the other gases in the air and delivers the oxygen at high concentrations to the patient.
Q: Can I smoke while taking oxygen?
A: No! Not only does smoking negate the positive effects oxygen might have on your condition, but it is also very dangerous to smoke while taking oxygen. Oxygen does not burn, but it does rapidly accelerate combustion. There have been cases where patients have burned their nasal cannula and face by smoking while taking oxygen.
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