Home Oxygen Therapy

by Diana Kohnle

Definition

Home oxygen is a tool to improve oxygen levels in the body. It may ease symptoms and improve health of the organs such as brain and kidneys.

Lung Respiration

Reasons for Procedure

Some injuries or illness make it hard for oxygen to pass from your lungs to the blood. This means your body tissue does not get the oxygen it needs to work well. This will make you tire easily and cause shortness of breath. Low oxygen can also be harmful to busy organs like the brain.

Oxygen therapy increase the amount of oxygen in your lungs. This will increase the amount that makes it into your blood. Some common reasons that people need home oxygen therapy include:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Sarcoidosis
Heart failure
Cancer
Lung infections

It may only be needed for a short time while you heal. Others may need permanent oxygen support.

Possible Complications

Home oxygen therapy is safe. There is an increased risk of fire around oxygen, but basic steps will help avoid this:

Keep the oxygen supply away from open flames.
Do not smoke. Do not allow anyone to smoke around you.

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

A prescription for oxygen will be needed. The prescription will include:

How much oxygen is needed
How the oxygen will be given
When to use it

Description of the Procedure

Home oxygen therapy is most often given with a nasal cannula. A cannula is a tube that is put just under your nose. Two prongs will deliver oxygen up into your nose. A face mask may be needed to improve oxygen delivery. The mask covers your mouth and nose.

Home oxygen may be delivered through 1 of 3 systems:

Concentrators—electrical device that collects oxygen from the air
Compressed gas systems—stored in steel or aluminum tanks (smaller tanks can be carried)
Liquid systems—stored in a large tank in the house (smaller tanks can be used out of the house)

How Long Will It Take?

Oxygen therapy will be based on your needs. It may only be needed during activity or 24 hours a day.

Will It Hurt?

Home oxygen therapy is painless. It can dry out the nose, which may lead to bloody noses.

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if any of these occur:

Cough, trouble breathing, or chest pain
Gray/blue tint around eyes, lips, and gums
Trouble sleeping
Loss of appetite
You are having trouble delivering the oxygen

If you think you have an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away.

RESOURCES:

American Lung Association
http://www.lung.org

Children's Health Network
http://www.childrenshealthnetwork.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

The Lung Association
https://www.lung.ca

References:

Oxygen therapy. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute website. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/oxygen-therapy. Accessed September 25, 2020.

Patient education: Teaching the patient about safe use of home oxygen equipment. EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: https://www.ebscoh.... Accessed September 25, 2020.

Oxygen therapy. American Thoracic Society website. Available at: https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/oxygen-therapy.pdf. Accessed September 25, 2020.

Supplemental oxygen. American Lung Association website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed September 25, 2020.

Last reviewed September 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board
Last Updated: 9/25/2020

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