{"id":1083,"date":"2013-11-02T10:43:09","date_gmt":"2013-11-02T10:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oxygenworldwide.wordpress.com\/?p=1083"},"modified":"2023-05-08T09:39:22","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T09:39:22","slug":"helping-you-to-breathe-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oxygenworldwide.com\/fr\/helping-you-to-breathe-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping you to breathe at home"},"content":{"rendered":"
Home oxygen treatment\u00a0involves breathing high concentrations of oxygen from a cylinder or machine in your home. <\/strong>
\nIf you’ve been prescribed oxygen therapy, it’s because your blood oxygen level is low.\u00a0Low oxygen levels can potentially\u00a0damage your heart or brain.
\nThe main purpose of home oxygen treatment is to\u00a0raise your blood oxygen\u00a0to a level that prevents such harm. It also helps relieve breathlessness\u00a0and other symptoms of low blood\u00a0oxygen, such as ankle swelling and blue lips.
\nHowever, using oxygen just for relieving symptoms of breathlessness is not helpful and can cause long term harm by making you less fit.\u00a0This can also cause a delay in finding out why you are breathless.<\/p>\n

How home oxygen treatment can help<\/h3>\n

If you have a\u00a0medical condition\u00a0that leads to a low oxygen level in your blood (hypoxia), you may feel breathless\u00a0and tired, particularly after walking or coughing. You may also have a build-up of fluid around your ankles (oedema) and blue lips.
\nBreathing air with a higher concentration of oxygen can help increase the amount of oxygen in your blood. This\u00a0makes it easier to do activities that might otherwise be more difficult. It also helps reduce the symptoms mentioned above.
\nOxygen therapy can help people with a range of health conditions that affect breathing or blood circulation, including:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease\u00a0(COPD) –\u00a0a long-term disease of the lungs<\/li>\n
  • severe long-term\u00a0asthma<\/li>\n
  • cystic fibrosis\u00a0– an inherited disease that causes the lungs to become clogged with thick, sticky mucus<\/li>\n
  • pulmonary hypertension\u00a0– high pressure inside the arteries to the lungs, which causes damage to the right-hand side of the heart<\/li>\n
  • obstructive sleep apnoea\u00a0– a condition that causes interrupted breathing during sleep<\/li>\n
  • diseases of the nerves and muscles or ribcage<\/li>\n
  • heart failure\u00a0– when the heart struggles to pump enough blood around the body<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    People who have oxygen therapy have different requirements. Some people only need oxygen therapy for short periods\u00a0during the day, when they’re walking about\u00a0(ambulatory oxygen). Others\u00a0need it for longer periods and during the night.<\/p>\n

    Different types of home oxygen<\/h3>\n

    Oxygen can be obtained from:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • compressed oxygen cylinders<\/li>\n
    • liquid oxygen in cylinders<\/li>\n
    • an oxygen concentrator machine, which extracts oxygen from the air<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Oxygen cylinders<\/h4>\n

      If you\u00a0just need\u00a0oxygen for short periods to relieve attacks of breathlessness after an illness, you will probably be prescribed oxygen cylinders. However, this should be reviewed after a certain time so that the short-term relief does not hide more serious underlying heart or lung conditions. If your blood oxygen levels are normal for you\u00a0during a\u00a0review, that short-term oxygen should be withdrawn.
      \nYou\u00a0breathe the oxygen through a mask or through soft tubes in your nose, called nasal cannulae. You\u00a0can talk, eat and drink\u00a0while using cannulae.
      \nCylinders containing oxygen compressed into liquid form can contain more oxygen than standard cylinders.\u00a0This type of oxygen\u00a0supply will last for longer, and the tank may also be lighter.<\/p>\n

      Oxygen concentrator machine<\/h4>\n

      An oxygen concentrator machine is convenient if you\u00a0would benefit from having oxygen for a large number of hours a day, including while you’re asleep.\u00a0It ensures you have a source of oxygen that never runs out.
      \nAn oxygen concentrator is a machine, about\u00a0two-and-a-half feet (75cm)\u00a0high, which plugs into your electrical socket. It filters oxygen from the air in the room and delivers it through\u00a0plastic tubing to a mask or nasal cannulae.
      \nLong tubing can be fixed around the floor or skirting board of your house, with two points where you can “plug in” to the oxygen supply.
      \nWhen the machine is installed, the engineer or nurse will discuss with you the length of tubing you\u2019ll need.\u00a0The machine is very quiet and compact, and the engineer will explain how to use it and will answer any questions you have.
      \nA back-up cylinder of oxygen is also provided in case the machine breaks down.\u00a0Regular maintenance visits will be made to make sure the concentrator is always working properly.<\/p>\n

      Portable (ambulatory) oxygen<\/h3>\n

      If you\u2019d like to have a small portable cylinder to take oxygen outside your home,\u00a0talk to\u00a0your specialist. You\u2019ll need to be fully assessed to see whether portable oxygen (also known as ambulatory oxygen therapy) is likely to be helpful.
      \nPortable oxygen is not recommended if you have\u00a0heart failure or if you smoke.
      \nPortable cylinders\u00a0can provide oxygen at a rate of\u00a02 litres\u00a0or 4 litres a minute,\u00a0or\u00a0have an adjustable scale up to 4 litres\u00a0a minute. The flow required is determined by your lung specialist or the oxygen service healthcare professional. When full, these cylinders weigh just over five pounds (2.3kg) and hold just under two hours of oxygen (at\u00a02 litres\u00a0a minute).<\/p>\n

      Going on holiday<\/h3>\n

      If you are going on holiday in England or Wales, talk to your supplier to see if\u00a0you can make arrangements to have home oxygen supplied to you at your destination. Try to give them as much notice as possible.
      \nBefore you\u00a0arrange your holiday, check with your doctor that you are well enough to travel.<\/p>\n

      Safety<\/h3>\n

      Oxygen is a fire hazard and, if you are supplied with home oxygen, it is important to take precautions.
      \nFor example:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • \n
        do not let anyone smoke while you are using oxygen<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
      • \n
        keep\u00a0away from\u00a0flammable liquids while using oxygen – these\u00a0include\u00a0alcohol gel, cleaning fluid or aerosols<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
      • \n
        keep oxygen at least six feet away from flames or heat sources<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
      • \n
        keep oxygen cylinders upright to avoid them getting damaged<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Your home oxygen supplier is also likely to let the local fire service know that there is oxygen in your home. They may request a risk assessment, even if you do not smoke.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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