Oxygen therapy for COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease. When someone has COPD, breathing is difficult because the airways become inflamed and thickened. The tissue in the lungs that exchange oxygen becomes damaged, which makes it harder for air to flow in and out of the lungs.

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.

Although oxygen therapy is more established in COPD treatment, other lung diseases may benefit from oxygen therapy as well.

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:

1. Perform daily tasks with less breathing difficulty
2. Participate in activities such as exercise without experiencing trouble breathing
3. Protect the organs in their body from further damage that can be caused by oxygen deprivation
4. Improve their sleep (which helps them feel more alert during the day)
5. 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 . 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.

The liquid option is better for people who require more oxygen because they can sustain a higher flow of oxygen.

Oxygen Concentrator

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.

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.