Oxygen_therapy FAQ Info-COPD_LungAssoc

8/7/2019 Oxygen_therapy FAQ Info-COPD_LungAssoc

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Many people contact us at The Lung

Associations BreathWorksTM Program

because theyre concerned about oxygen

therapy. They believe that being put on

oxygen is a sign that theyre gravely ill.

But that certainly isnt always the case. For

some people, oxygen is an important part

of regular therapy. For others, it may be a

short-term treatment. Generally, oxygen

therapy can benefit:

People with very low blood-oxygen levels

(a condition called hypoxemia)

People with temporary lung damage from

infections (like pneumonia), and

People who have chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease (COPD) and feel

increasingly short of breath at rest. This

shortness of breath is amplified withexercise, may worsen at night, and often

disrupts sleep.

Can you benefit from oxygen therapy? Ask

your doctor. But first, lets look at how

COPD can affect your blood-oxygen levels.

When you have COPD, your lungs may not

use the oxygen in the air efficiently

because of damage from the disease. As a

result, you can have low blood-oxygen

levels. The changes in your body thatcome from COPD happen over time so

slowly that you may not notice low blood-

oxygen levels for a while. You may begin to

notice that you feel tired, more breathless,

and less able to get through your daily

activities. You may avoid certain activities

because you know youll get tired or short

of breath. You may feel mildly confused,

forgetful, or muddled these are common

symptoms for people with low blood-

oxygen levels.

Lets see how oxygen therapy works

Oxygen therapy is generally delivered as a

gas from an oxygen source like a cylinder

or concentrator. You breathe in the oxygen

through small nasal prongs that fit into

the nostrils, or through a mask that covers

the mouth and nose. Breathing in this extra

oxygen raises low blood-oxygen levels,

easing the strain on your body and makingbreathing easier.

Because your body is unable to store

oxygen, the therapy works only while you

use it. If you take off your oxygen mask or

remove the prongs, your blood-oxygen

level will drop within a few minutes.

Oxygen therapy can lead to a longer life

expectancy. More importantly, it can

improve the quality of everyday life for

those who need oxygen therapy and use itproperly. People who need oxygen therapy

and use it as prescribed feel more alert,

sleep better, are less irritable, and feel less

breathless and tired.

A S K T H E

B R E AT H W O R K S C O A C H

Fact Sheet

August 05

Fact Sheet: What you need to know about oxygen

Do I need oxygen therapy for my COPD?


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Oxygen therapy cant solve all the

problems of COPD. Its a treatment, not a

cure, and it wont reverse lung damage. It

also wont work for all people with COPD.

Only people who suffer from significant low

blood-oxygen levels will benefit from

oxygen. Just as you wouldnt benefit from

wearing eyeglasses if you had perfect

vision, you wont benefit from taking oxygen

if you dont have low blood-oxygen levels.

How do I get tested for Low

Blood-Oxygen Levels (hypoxemia)?

Two tests measure blood-oxygen levels:

oximetry and arterial blood gas analysis.

Oximetry This is a simple, painless

method of estimating how much oxygen is

in your blood. A sensor is clipped to your

finger or earlobe. The sensor uses infrared

technology to detect saturated blood

cells that is cells that are carrying

oxygen. The more saturated blood cells,

the higher the oximetry reading.

Arterial blood gas analysis This test

provides more information than oximetry.

A blood sample is taken by inserting a

needle into your artery, usually at the wrist.

The sample is analyzed to measure the

amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in

your blood.

Oxygen therapy: the basics

The idea of using oxygen therapy can

worry some people with COPD. For

example, theyre concerned about learning

to use the equipment, oxygen safety, and

making drastic lifestyle changes.

In reality, oxygen therapy is quite simple

once you get used to it. And you dont

have to do it on your own your oxygen

suppliers team is there to help. And if you

need more help, or have questions or

concerns, you can always contact The

Lung Associations BreathWorks Program.

Prescribing oxygen

Oxygen is part of nature, and we all need it

to live. The air we breathe is about 21%

oxygen. But oxygen is also a drug. Like

any other prescription medicine, it must be

used carefully. People on oxygen therapy

need to follow instructions and comply with

all safety precautions.

As with most drugs, your doctor will tailor

your oxygen prescription to your individual

needs. The prescription will specify:

The flow rate the amount of oxygen

you need for rest and for exercise. For

example, your flow rate might be twolitres of oxygen per minute.

The duration of oxygen treatment how

many hours youll use your oxygen each

day. Usually, continuous oxygen therapy

requires a minimum of 15 hours a day.

Sometimes, oxygen is prescribed for use

only while sleeping or with exercise.

Only people with

significantly low

blood-oxygen levels

will benefit from

oxygen therapy.

Nasal prongs Oxygen mask


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to normal. If you have chronically low blood-

oxygen levels because of lung damage

from COPD, you may need to be on oxygen

permanently. Have your doctor check your

prescription at least once each year, or if

your symptoms change, to see if your

oxygen prescription still meets your needs.

Remember: if you have been prescribed

oxygen on a round-the-clock basis, you

wont benefit by using it only for a couple of

hours each day. Usually, you need to use

the oxygen for a minimum of 15 hours a

day for optimal treatment.

Seven things you should know

about oxygen therapy

Not everyone needs oxygen therapy but

it can make a huge difference in the lives

of those who do. Ask your doctor to test to

see if oxygen might help you. If you do use

oxygen, the following tips can help you get

the most out of your therapy.

1. Oxygen is not necessarily forever

In some cases, oxygen is a short-term

therapy. For example, if you have a respira-

tory infection, you may need oxygen only

until you recover. In other circumstances,

such as treating persistent low blood-

oxygen levels related to COPD, you may

need oxygen therapy for the rest of your life.

2. Ask how to use the equipment

If you do go on long-term oxygen therapy,

youll deal regularly with people at your

oxygen supply company. Learning how to

use and care for the oxygen equipment

may seem complicated. Have the oxygen

company give you a demonstration. If

youre not clear on something, keep askinguntil you feel confident. For additional

support, have a family member or caregiver

learn about your equipment as well.

3. Keep your equipment clean

Clean equipment operates more effectively.

Keeping your equipment clean also helps

prevent infections. The oxygen supply

company will teach you about when to

replace your oxygen-source tubing and

your nasal prongs or face mask. Always

wash your hands before cleaning or

handling your oxygen equipment.

4. Ask about fundingOxygen therapy can be expensive,

especially over the long term. If you meet

certain medical criteria, you may qualify for

government funding for oxygen therapy

ask your doctor if youre eligible. Funding,

which varies from province to province,

may cover your basic oxygen needs. Some

items, like liquid oxygen or oxygen

conserving devices, may not be covered.

5. Keep yourself healthy

Oxygen is a treatment, not a cure. To reap

the full benefits of oxygen therapy, youll

need to keep yourself as healthy as

possible. Exercise regularly, eat healthy,

take your other medications as prescribed,

stay away from cigarette smoke, and

recognize respiratory infections early. For

tips on staying as healthy as possible with

COPD, contact The Lung Associations

BreathWorks Program and ask for our

booklet, The BreathWorks Plan.

6. Consider joining a support group

Despite its advantages, starting oxygen

therapy is still an adjustment. Connecting

with people who are going through what

youre going through can be comforting.

The Lung Associations BreathWorks

Program may be able to point you to a

support group in your area.

7. If you smoke, try to quit

You simply cannot smoke if youre using

oxygen. In fact, no one can smoke within10 feet or 3 metres of oxygen equipment.

Thats because of an increased risk of fire

(see Common questions about oxygen,

below). Call The Lung Association for tips

or advice on quitting smoking.


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Not getting

enough oxygen can

limit your activities

and your ability to

think clearly.


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Common questions about oxygen

Q. Ive heard that oxygen can catch fire. Is

this true ?

A. Oxygen is not flammable, but it does

support combustion. If oxygen is exposed toan open flame, it will accelerate burning, a

situation that can result in serious burns.

Thats why smoking is prohibited while you

use oxygen. Under normal circumstances,

however, oxygen will not explode. Used

properly, oxygen is very safe. Your oxygen

supplier will instruct you in the safe use of

oxygen.

Q. Can I become addicted to oxygen?

A. No. While oxygen is a drug, and while we

all need oxygen to support life, you cant get

hooked on oxygen. If your blood-oxygen

levels are low, you may need oxygen

therapy to live your life. And because

oxygen therapy raises blood-oxygen levels,

youll feel better, and will want to use the

oxygen as prescribed. Needing oxygen for

daily living and feeling better while using

oxygen, however, arent the same as being

addicted to it. People on oxygen therapy are

no more addicted to oxygen than a

diabetic is addicted to insulin.

Q. Does oxygen eventually stop working?

A. No. The effects of regular oxygen therapy

to treat chronic low blood-oxygen levels do

not diminish over time. You may need to

increase your oxygen flow rate during

exercise and some activities to keep up withyour body's oxygen demands. In that case,

your doctor may prescribe both a resting

flow rate and an activity flow rate.

Q. Can I travel with oxygen?

A. Yes. You can travel while on oxygen with

some help and planning. You need to

contact your home oxygen supply company

well in advance of your trip to allow them

to arrange for oxygen while traveling and at

your destination. The Lung Associations

BreathWorks Program can also give you

advice about traveling with oxygen.

Q. Will oxygen therapy allow me to continue

smoking?

A. No. In addition to the fire hazards of

smoking while on oxygen, smoking

continues to damage your lungs and adds

poisons to your bloodstream, making it

harder for the blood to carry oxygen to your

body. Please talk to your doctor about quit

smoking plans and medications. You risk

your health and the health of those around

you when you smoke.

Fact Sheet

August 05

Get the information and support you needfrom one of our BreathWorks COPD educators.

Phone 1-866-717-COPD (2673) or visit usonline at www.lung.ca/breathworks.

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Oxygen_therapy FAQ Info-COPD_LungAssoc