Oxygen treatment, home
Portable (ambulatory) oxygen
Talk toyour specialist if youd like a small, portable cylinder so you can take oxygen outside your home. Youll need to be fully assessed to see whether portable oxygen (also known as ambulatory oxygen therapy) is likely to be helpful.
Portable oxygen isn't recommended if you have heart failure or if you smoke.
Portable cylinderscan provide oxygen at a rate oftwo litresa minute some cylinders allow you to increase the amount of oxygen being delivered to up to four litresa minute. The flow required will be determined by your lung specialist or the oxygen service healthcare professional. When full, these cylinders weigh just over 2.3kg (five pounds) and hold just under two hours of oxygen (at a rate of two litresa minute).
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Find out what home oxygen treatment is, when it's needed and the different methods used to deliver it.
How oxygen treatment is given
Oxygen treatment can be given in a number of ways including through a: tube positioned under the nose (nasal cannula) face mask placed over the nose and mouth tube placed into the mouth and d
How home oxygen treatment can help
If you have a health conditionthat causes low levels of oxygen in your blood (hypoxia), you may feel breathless and tired, particularly after walking or coughing. Fluid may also build up around your a
Oxygen treatment assessment
If you have a long-term medical condition and your doctor thinks oxygen treatment might be helpful, you'll be asked to visit your nearest oxygen clinic for an assessment. During the assessment it's l
Oxygen cylinders
If you only needoxygen for short periods to relieve attacks of breathlessness after an illness, you'll probably be prescribed oxygen cylinders. However, this should be regularly reviewed so that the s
Oxygen concentrator machine
An oxygen concentrator machine is suitable if youwould benefit from having oxygen for many hours a day, including while you're asleep.It ensures you have a source of oxygen that never runs out. An ox
Portable (ambulatory) oxygen
Talk toyour specialist if youd like a small, portable cylinder so you can take oxygen outside your home. Youll need to be fully assessed to see whether portable oxygen (also known as ambulatory oxygen
Going on holiday
If you're going on holiday in England or Wales, talk to your supplier to see whether you can make arrangements to have home oxygen supplied to you at your destination. Try to give them as much notice
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