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Oxygen Therapy Education

Human bodies are constantly taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. If the balance isn't right, the oxygen levels in the blood drop, causing physical problems. Oxygen therapy is used to fix the problems that arise from not enough oxygen getting to the blood.

  1. What Is Oxygen Therapy?

    • Oxygen, one of the natural elements, also can be classified as a gas or a drug. In oxygen therapy, the gas is delivered at concentrations greater than the ambient air. It can be used in home care so that patients can continue regular activities.

    When Is it Used?

    • Oxygen therapy is used to treat or prevent a lack of oxygen in the blood. Some of the conditions oxygen therapy treats include respiratory distress, such as acute asthma or pneumonia, heart attacks, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic asthma. Sometimes oxygen is administered to treat lung patients during exercise.

    How Is it Properly Used?

    • In a hospital, the oxygen is supplied through a wall outlet. At home, the oxygen source is usually a canister. Plastic tubing connects the oxygen to the patient in both cases. A nasal cannula or mask is attached to the tubing for delivery of the oxygen. Most commonly, the nasal cannula is used because it doesn't interfere with eating or speaking.

    Equipment Needed

    • Oxygen can be given through nasal tubes, a mask or a tent. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves an airtight chamber. There are several types of oxygen delivery systems. One is compressed oxygen, which is stored as a gas in various sizes of tanks. Flow meters adjust the oxygen flow. This is generally used when oxygen only is needed when being physically active. Liquid oxygen, another option, is stored in a large tank. Portable tanks can be filled from the large tank. The liquid oxygen is warmed into a gas for the patient to inhale. A third option is the oxygen concentrator, which is an electric oxygen delivery system the size of a large suitcase. It extracts some of the air from the room, separates the oxygen and delivers it to the patient. A cylinder of oxygen is kept handy in the event of a power outage. This system is used for people who require constant oxygen therapy.

    Considerations

    • A prescription is required for oxygen therapy. The need for supplemental oxygen is determined by tests and clinical observations. No special patient preparation is needed to use this therapy. Oxygen therapy needs to be evaluated periodically. Some risks involved include frequent headaches, anxiety, blue lips or fingernails, drowsiness, confusion, restlessness, and slow, shallow, difficult or irregular breathing. The costs for oxygen therapy usually are fully or partially paid by health insurers, including Medicare. Patients also will receive instructions on how to use oxygen safely in the home. Oxygen is combustible, so no open flames or other combustible items should be allowed in the home. Knocking cylinders together can cause sparks, so it is important to keep them from bumping together. They also need to be kept in a well-ventilated area.

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