Popular science | Home oxygen therapy, all you need to know

  Under normal circumstances, the body absorbs oxygen from the environment through the respiratory system and delivers it to various parts of the body through the blood circulation.

  However, in some cases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, altitude environment, sleep apnea, etc., patients may not be able to get enough oxygen, at which time oxygen therapy is needed to supplement oxygen to maintain normal physiological function. For some patients with chronic diseases, long-term home oxygen therapy is an important means of sustaining life.

Who needs home oxygen therapy?

1) Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: such as patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema, their lungs are structured and unable to effectively exchange oxygen.

2) Patients with pulmonary fibrosis: the lungs will lack elasticity, affecting lung gas exchange, resulting in a decline in lung gas exchange function.

3) Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) : PAH can cause increased pulmonary vascular resistance and affect pulmonary blood circulation.

4) Patients with severe lung infections: temporary or long-term home oxygen therapy may be required while recovering from the disease.

5) Patients with sleep apnea: This condition causes patients to stop breathing several times during sleep, which leads to hypoxemia. Home oxygen therapy is needed if aerobic saturation continues to decline after the airway obstruction factor is removed.

6) Heart failure: It is the terminal stage of all heart diseases, and oxygen therapy can increase oxygen delivery, thereby reducing the burden on the heart and relieving symptoms.

7) Patients with severe anemia: Severe anemia can lead to a lack of oxygen in the body tissues and increase the burden on the heart, while correcting anemia, home oxygen therapy can provide additional oxygen.

8) Cancer patients: Especially those with extensive lung metastases or lung complications, may need oxygen therapy.

9) Plateau environment: Living in a high altitude environment, because the oxygen content in the air is low, may lead to dizziness, memory loss, etc. Oxygen therapy will increase oxygen supply and relieve hypoxia symptoms.

10) Others: Some diseases such as carbon monoxide poisoning, some neuromuscular diseases, etc., home oxygen therapy can help alleviate the condition and improve the symptoms.

  Simple hypoxemia: Generally due to diffusion dysfunction and ventilation/blood flow ratio imbalance. Diffusion dysfunction, hypoxemia can be satisfactorily corrected by increasing the inhaled oxygen concentration, but oxygen therapy is not ideal for pulmonary shunt caused by the imbalance of ventilation/blood flow ratio. With hypoxemia associated with carbon dioxide retention, oxygen therapy can correct hypoxemia but does not help carbon dioxide removal, and can aggravate carbon dioxide retention if improperly applied, which is seen in patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

How do I get oxygen?

There are two main ways to get oxygen:

  1) Oxygen cylinder: This is a traditional home oxygen therapy. Oxygen cylinders are usually 5 liters, 10 liters or larger and contain compressed oxygen. The use of oxygen cylinders requires regular inspection and replacement to ensure the supply and safety of oxygen. Oxygen cylinders used for home oxygen therapy can be delivered and replaced through local supply channels. Patients who continue to use oxygen need to have adequate oxygen tanks at home.

  2) Oxygen generator: Oxygen generator separates different components of gas through different principles. These devices are usually small and can provide a continuous supply of oxygen, making them suitable for long-term home oxygen therapy. The oxygen production and concentration of the oxygen generator can be adjusted according to the needs of the patient.

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  In the home environment, the patient's heart rate, respiratory rate, cyanosis, and consciousness should be observed after oxygen therapy. The patient's heart rate slowed down, respiratory rate decreased, dyspnea improved, and cyanosis relieved or disappeared, indicating that oxygen therapy was effective. Patients with bradybreathing, consciousness disorders and other manifestations suggest poor oxygen therapy effect, should improve oxygen flow, replace oxygen inhalation devices, and seek medical attention in time. Whether carbon dioxide is elevated should be determined by the primary disease, symptoms and blood gas analysis.

  In conclusion, home oxygen therapy offers patients the possibility of receiving oxygen therapy at home. However, to ensure the safety and effectiveness of oxygen therapy, patients should follow the relevant precautions and daily care. Through rational home oxygen therapy, patients can alleviate hypoxia symptoms, improve quality of life, delay disease progression, and reduce medical costs.