Having oxygen at home is a literal lifeline for millions of Americans who need to use it to aid with many diseases and conditions. These are mainly respiratory and include severe asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, sleep apnea, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, covid-19, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is the most common condition for which home oxygen therapy is prescribed. The oxygen is prescribed to raise oxygen levels in a patient’s blood, offering more oxygen than is available from the air in the room alone.
If you have been diagnosed with a condition that requires home oxygen therapy then ensuring that you have a regular supply of oxygen canisters, or refills for your refillable canisters is paramount. Finding a reliable home oxygen supplier in Missoula, Montana can be daunting as it can be a difficult thing to do when also facing the illness that comes with the need for it, so it’s worth asking friends for suggestions, or even just asking your healthcare workers who have prescribed it. Your home oxygen supplier should also be able to supply you with the equipment you need to use it, oxygen concentrators, for example, there are many made by different brands, but a good supplier will be able to provide you with the best options like this SimplyGo Portable Oxygen Concentrator on the market.
Will I Need To Use Home Oxygen Therapy Forever?
Not necessarily, you may only need to be on home oxygen for a short while, while you recover from a disease, but you shouldn’t reduce the amount of oxygen you’re on off your own back. It’s important to always have a doctor’s guiding hand to tell you what steps you need to take next, as reducing oxygen of your own accord can end up creating further problems down the line, and in the worst scenarios if you stop using it too soon it could potentially kill you.
Is Home Oxygen Therapy Safe?
If you’re using oxygen for too long at one time and you take in more oxygen than your body needs it can slow your heart rate and your breathing down to dangerous levels, and it can lead to oxygen toxicity or oxygen poisoning. You should also be careful of where you store the oxygen canisters as they are known to be flammable, if there is any faulty equipment, such as a leaky regulator, and a flame is lit, it could potentially lead to a fire or even a canister explosion. Any good home oxygen supplier in Missoula, Montana will complete vigorous safety checks before they leave you with your new setup, but don’t forget to make the checks yourself daily.