Definition of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Oxygen Concentrator Purchase
In which groups of people do you need to buy an oxygen concentrator?
For example: people with lung diseases: including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary heart disease, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, emphysema, etc..
Cardiovascular disease people: suffering from hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, acute infarction, angina pectoris, heart failure and so on.
People with severe anemia.
Other diseases caused by hypoxia.
People with environmental hypoxia, such as: plateau reaction.
How do I get an RX for my oxygen concentrator?
If you think you may need a prescription for an oxygen concentrator, talk to your doctor. If necessary, your doctor will perform tests to evaluate your blood oxygen levels. Your doctor may even test to see if oxygen levels change during exercise or sleep.
Who prescribed your oxygen concentrator?
Based on the results of these tests, your doctor will write a prescription that specifies your oxygen level needs. These needs include an oxygen dose, usually measured in liters per minute (LPM).
By understanding your oxygen prescription and how to adjust the flow rate, oxygen therapy can be optimized. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to consult with your physician.
Purchase of Over-the-Counter Convenient Oxygen Concentrators
The main situations include home health care, portable use, and environmental hypoxia:
Home healthcare and portable use: Individuals can purchase an oxygen concentrator without a prescription for healthcare purposes, or for portable use, such as for outdoor activities. In this case, the oxygen concentrator is primarily used to provide additional oxygen to help the body maintain a normal supply of oxygen, especially during high intensity activities or environmental oxygen deprivation, in order to maintain physical strength and concentration.
Environmental hypoxia: For people who need an oxygen concentrator due to environmental hypoxia, such as plateau reaction, etc., an oxygen concentrator is mainly used to provide supplemental oxygen to alleviate the discomfort caused by high altitude and oxygen scarcity.
Ordinary healthcare oxygen therapy has a variety of benefits for people with respiratory conditions, including:
Helping patients continue to maintain an active lifestyle
Increasing oxygen flow at night while sleeping
Increasing oxygen flow when exercising
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is usually divided into four grades (based on the severity of lung function tests), and patients at different grades may indeed need different oxygen concentrations. The grading system for COPD is usually based on the percentage of FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second) as a percentage of the predicted value. Here are the four grades of COPD and the recommended oxygen concentration formula that may be needed for each grade:
1. Mild COPD (stage I)
- Lung function (FEV1): ≥80%
- Symptoms: Mild shortness of breath, may not be obvious
- Oxygen concentration recommendation: Long-term oxygen supplementation is generally not required, except in specific circumstances (such as high altitude, exercise or acute attack). Portable oxygen equipment with 30%-35% oxygen concentration is usually used, and short-term use can provide relief.
- Recommended use Silver Edition
2. Moderate COPD (stage II)
- Lung function (FEV1): 50%-79%
- Symptoms: Increased shortness of breath, especially during exercise or daily activities
- Oxygen concentration recommendation: Suitable for mild oxygen therapy (such as pulse oxygen). It is recommended to use equipment with 30%-40% oxygen concentration, usually to supplement oxygen during activities or at night to improve breathing comfort.
- Recommended use Silver Edition
3. Severe COPD (Grade III)
- Lung function (FEV1): 30%-49%
- Symptoms: Obvious shortness of breath, difficulty in daily activities, and possible frequent acute attacks
- Oxygen concentration recommendations: It is recommended to use equipment with an oxygen concentration of more than 93%, such as 5L pulse oxygen supply equipment, and supplement oxygen regularly or continuously every day (such as at night or during exercise). This can significantly improve patients' quality of life and reduce symptoms.
- Recommended use Gold Edition or Desktop Molecular Sieve
4. Extremely severe COPD (Grade IV)
- Lung function (FEV1): <30%
- Symptoms: Severe shortness of breath, possible cardiopulmonary insufficiency, requiring long-term oxygen therapy
- Recommended oxygen concentration: An oxygen concentration of 93% or more is required, usually a 10L continuous oxygen supply device for continuous oxygen inhalation throughout the day. Such patients may require continuous oxygen therapy to maintain adequate blood oxygen levels, alleviate symptoms, and prevent complications.
- Recommended use Oxygen Chamber