How to Breathe Oxygen From a Concentrator for Better Sleep

Oxygen concentrators are one of the main treatments for sleep apnea. They use continuous-flow oxygen systems to deliver air with higher oxygen content. Although there are several models of oxygen concentrators available, most of them have the same basic functions. When researching different oxygen concentrators for sleep apnea, look for models that are able to adapt to varying therapeutic pressures depending on the quality of the breathing by the individual using the machine. Other helpful features may include climate control, easy to use controls, automatic leakage compensation and automatic starting and stopping ability.

Things You'll Need

• Owner's manual

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Instructions

• 1

  Plug in the oxygen concentrator to a wall outlet. Make sure that the outlet is working and that the standby light and other functions are working on your oxygen concentrator. If there is no power indicated by the oxygen concentrator unit, try a different wall outlet. Also check the circuit breaker for the branch into which the concentrator is plugged. If the circuit breaker switch is tripped, you may have too many appliances plugged into that circuit.

• 2

  Turn on the oxygen concentrator machine and adjust the liters per minute (LPM) as designated by your doctor's orders. The LPM should be indicated by the prescription written by your general practitioner. If you are in doubt or confused regarding the rate of flow most appropriate for your health condition, contact your doctor's office for clarification before using the machine.

• 3

  Put the oxygen breathing apparatus on your mouth or nose while using the machine. Adjust the tubing for the breathing apparatus so that it is not stretched or containing tension, which might cause it to fall off if you move around during the night while sleeping. When using a nasal cannula, use a water-based lubricant for your nostrils instead of oil based products.