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COPD: Introduction to Oxygen Therapy Devices
COPD: Introduction to Oxygen Therapy DevicesOxygen therapy helps you to get more oxygen into your blood and help you feel better. But you need to makesure you know how to use your device correctly.There are several types of devices used for oxygen therapy. The two most common are oxygen concentratorsand liquid oxygen.First let’s look at oxygen concentrators.As the name suggests, oxygen concentrators filter the oxygen out of the air so you breathe in mostly oxygen.You want to place your oxygen concentrator in a non-dusty room. Dust can get into the air filter, so it’s best toavoid it if possible.Keep the oxygen concentrator away from the wall, so there is space for the air to flow in and out of the unit.Portable oxygen concentrators are lighter alternatives to home oxygen concentrators.You are able to use them on the go. They run on batteries and can be recharged using any power outlet.Oxygen concentrators never have to be refilled because they work using the air in the room. However, they doneed power from a battery or electricity to work. Talk with your healthcare provider about a backup plan incase of a power outage.Some patients with a home oxygen concentrator also have portable tanks for use outside of the house.Both portable oxygen concentrators and portable tanks deliver oxygen only when you are breathing in. Thislets the battery and oxygen supply last longer.Liquid Oxygen devices come with two main parts the base storage unit of liquid oxygen and the portablecontainer to use for when you are on the go.The base unit has 1 to 2 weeks’ worth of liquid oxygen in it, depending on your needs, and it needs to berefilled by a professional.You can connect your oxygen tube right to the base unit for use around the house.The portable container connects right to the top of the base unit to refill with oxygen.This portable container is lightweight.Once the portable container is filled up, you can take it off the base unit and move around freely.No matter what type of oxygen Therapy Device you use if you travel work with your oxygen provider to makesure you have a supply for you when you get there.“The oxygen company that I deal with for my portable oxygen or my oxygen concentrator, I tell them inadvance that I'll be going on vacation for two weeks or whatever at a time and they will take the initiative to calltheir company down in Myrtle Beach and they would have all the things that I need there before I get there.”Work with your healthcare provider to determine which type of oxygen therapy device is right for you.And no matter what device you have, make sure you are using it correctly to get the extra oxygen you need tolive your life to the fullest.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.© The Wellness Network
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