Oxygen

Oxygen therapy helps raise your blood oxygen to give you more energy for everyday activities. It also reduces damage to and helps your body’s vital organs to function, such as your brain and your heart.

Why is oxygen important?

Oxygen makes up 20% of the air we all breathe. When you breathe in, your lungs dissolve the oxygen into your blood. Your blood then carries the oxygen to all parts of your body. Healthy lungs keep your blood oxygen at the right level. If your lungs are damaged, they might not do this. 

Low oxygen for long periods of time can cause problems with your vital organs. Your whole body is affected when your oxygen levels fall. Your brain is one of the most sensitive organs to this. A lack of oxygen can make you feel irritable and make it harder to make decisions or concentrate on tasks.

When do you need oxygen therapy?

Many people with lung disease can feel short of breath and wonder if they need extra oxygen. Oxygen therapy is prescribed for people whose blood oxygen is low over a long period of time, and not specifically to relieve breathlessness. While it can sometimes help with breathlessness, in many cases it does not. 

How do you know if you need oxygen therapy?

Your specialist doctor will check your blood oxygen. They might do an arterial blood gas test (ABGT) from your wrist to measure the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Based on the results, your specialist doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy.

How often should I use oxygen therapy?

If your specialist doctor prescribes oxygen for you, it might be short-term to recover from a flare-up, or longer term. 

If you need oxygen therapy, your specialist doctor will give you an oxygen prescription, which will include how much oxygen you need and how many hours you should use it each day, for example:

• When you exercise or do daily tasks
• When you sleep
• All the time (at least 18 hours a day)

It’s important to follow your doctor’s prescription exactly, just like you would for any other medication. Your oxygen should be used as prescribed whether you’re at home or out and about.

What are the benefits of using home oxygen?

Most people feel better when they start using oxygen at home. This can be:

• Feeling more rested after sleeping
• Being less breathless
• Thinking more clearly
• Having more energy

Even if you don’t feel these changes, oxygen therapy is still helping your body.

What equipment will I need?

Oxygen concentrators

A concentrator draws in air through a vent and filters out unnecessary gases to deliver a higher concentration of oxygen.

• Home concentrator: It’s the most common option for people on long-term oxygen. This larger device plugs into a power point in your home. Long tubing allows you to move freely around your home. 
• Portable concentrator: A smaller, battery-powered concentrator that can be wheeled about or carried in a bag. Most give a short burst of oxygen only when you breathe in (pulsed dose) which helps to save battery life, while others use a continuous flow. These machines can be quite expensive and are usually self-funded.

Oxygen cylinders

• Large freestanding or stationary cylinders: Sometimes provided as a back-up for people on long-term oxygen therapy, in case of a problem with their concentrator or a lengthy power blackout.   
• Portable cylinders: These are smaller cylinders for outside use. They can be wheeled, attached to a walker or wheelchair, or carried in a bag or backpack. They need to be refilled once empty, and are best used with oxygen conservers to make them last longer.  

Nasal prongs and tubing

Oxygen is normally delivered through nasal prongs. They are two small, soft and curved plastic tubes that fit into your nostrils and connect to lightweight plastic tubing. Nasal prongs let you eat and talk while receiving oxygen. You might also get oxygen through a mask, but that’s less common.

Safety and other considerations

Be careful of open flames

• Don’t smoke or allow smoking inside your home, this includes e-cigarettes or vaping devices. 
• Avoid activities involving an open flame or sparks, such as matches, candles, gas cookers or barbeques.

Living with home oxygen

It can take a while to adjust to living with home oxygen, but with the right support you can still stay active and do the things you enjoy. Contact your healthcare team or oxygen supplier to help set up and maintain your oxygen therapy devices.

Paying for oxygen

There are a number of subsidy options that may be available to you. Talk to your specialist doctor about funding options when your oxygen is prescribed:

• You may be eligible for funding through state or territory-based medical equipment subsidies.
• Federal funding may also be available for aged care residents and veterans.
• The Australian Government provides a yearly payment to help with energy costs to run essential medical equipment.