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Oxygen therapy for COPD is often an effective treatment because it can increase the oxygen that gets into the lungs and bloodstream. Research shows that people with COPD who undergo oxygen therapy have an increased life expectancy and a better quality of life.
Breathing Difficulties From COPD
When you breathe air into your lungs through your windpipe, the air enters into small air passages in the lungs (bronchi). The bronchi branch out into smaller air passages known as bronchioles. The air that passes through the bronchi and bronchioles eventually reaches small air sacs called alveoli that are equipped with small blood vessels (capillaries). When the air reaches the capillaries, it can then enter the bloodstream.
Through this process, carbon dioxide is getting released from the body by the same route—just in reverse. Carbon dioxide enters the capillaries, goes into the air sacs, and then passes out through the bronchioles, bronchi, and windpipe.
Healthy lungs have elasticized air sacs that deflate and inflate to make the process go smoothly. In a person with COPD, the airflow in and out of the lungs becomes strained and shallow. People with COPD have a harder time taking a full breath because of the way their lungs are functioning.
Can a Person With COPD Get Better?
COPD is an incurable disease that gets worse over time. The chronic nature of the disease, and the fact that it worsens over time, means that people with COPD often experience a lower quality of life and an increased mortality rate. COPD is the main cause of disability in the United States and the third leading cause of death.
The disease often has periods of getting worse (exacerbation events). There are two patterns in which these events will develop: sudden onset and gradual onset.
People with COPD require treatment to manage their condition and improve their quality of life. One form of effective treatment is oxygen therapy.
Oxygen Therapy Benefits
Oxygen therapy is supplemental oxygen introduced into the body. There are many benefits of using oxygen therapy to help manage COPD symptoms.A person with COPD who uses oxygen therapy might be able to:
- Perform daily tasks with less breathing difficulty
- Participate in activities such as exercise without experiencing trouble breathing
- Protect the organs in their body from further damage that can be caused by oxygen deprivation
- Improve their sleep (which helps them feel more alert during the day)
- Increase their life expectancy
- Portable oxygen also gives people with COPD more freedom to travel without having to worry about experiencing symptoms.
Types of O2 Therapy for COPD
There are many forms of oxygen therapy, all of which come with benefits and drawbacks.
Cylinders
Cylinders were the first option created for oxygen supply and can be taken with a person wherever they go. The tank is filled with oxygen in a gas form and is designed to offer a continuous flow of oxygen while a person uses it.
It can be easy to take on the go, but it only lasts for a short amount of time, which makes it the least popular option among people who require home oxygen therapy.
Liquid
Liquid oxygen tanks are easier to store and transport than gas oxygen tanks. They can also carry more oxygen (because 1 liter of liquid oxygen can be transformed into 860 liters of gas oxygen). That means that a small tank of liquid oxygen has a much longer shelf life.
Carrying around a liquid oxygen tank may seem like more of a burden than one filled with gas, but the liquid system can be used to refill portable oxygen-delivering devices, which would allow a person with COPD to still travel or go about their daily activities.
Concentrators
Home oxygen therapy is often performed using a concentrator. This type of system can provide different flows depending on the person’s needs. It works by pulling oxygen from the air.
The main drawback is that many oxygen concentrators are stationary, meaning that they can only be used at home. However, if a person does need to leave home, there are portable concentrators that provide the option of using a small cylinder that is filled with oxygen from the concentrator.
Some forms of concentrators are entirely portable and give people the ability to leave their home or even travel by air. However, these options do not provide a great amount of oxygen flow. Therefore, they may not be the best option for some people with COPD depending on their own oxygen supply needs.
These forms of oxygen therapy are administered to people with COPD using a tube-like device that is inserted into the nostrils (nasal cannula), a face mask, or a tube that is surgically placed directly into the windpipe.
What Is the Best Form of Oxygen Therapy?
The best form of oxygen therapy will depend on your needs and your lifestyle. For example, if you spend most of your time in your home, a concentrator might be a good choice. If you like to travel, having something that is portable will be an important consideration.
Talk to your doctor about how you see yourself living with oxygen therapy to determine the best equipment for you.
The Benefits of Oxygen Therapy
In addition to helping prevent heart failure in people with severe lung diseases, such as COPD, supplemental oxygen has many benefits. Some studies have shown an increase in survival rates in patients who use oxygen more than 15 hours a day.
Supplemental oxygen improves sleep, mood, mental alertness, stamina, and allows individuals to carry out normal, everyday functions.
Using Oxygen Safely
Although oxygen is a safe, nonflammable gas, it supports combustion, meaning materials burn more readily in its presence. It is very important to follow general oxygen safety guidelines if you are planning to use, or be around supplemental oxygen. Some helpful tips to follow include:
- Post "No Smoking" signs around your home to remind visitors not to smoke near you or your oxygen.
- Use caution around open flames like matches and candles as well as gas heaters and stoves. If you are using supplemental oxygen, you should be at least five feet away from all heat sources.
- Turn off the switch when not in use, turn off the power.
- Always follow any instructions provided to you regarding safe usage.
In case of an emergency, make sure you have backup equipment, oxygen, and a generator.
