Oxygen Therapy (Supplemental Oxygen)

Oxygen therapy gives your body additional oxygen if you’re not getting enough through breathing. You might need supplemental (extra) oxygen if you have a lung condition or another health issue that makes it hard for oxygen to get to your lungs. If you’re on oxygen therapy, you’ll breathe in oxygen through a mask or a tube (cannula) from a tank or machine.

When you breathe in, air travels down your airways to your lungs. Oxygen moves from your lungs to your blood. There, it travels to your organs and tissues to give your body energy to work properly.

When you have lung problems, your body might not have enough oxygen to keep itself working as it should. You can develop low blood oxygen levels (hypoxemia). Over time, hypoxemia can lead to organ damage and organ failure. Lack of oxygen can be life-threatening.

Who needs oxygen therapy?

You might need supplemental oxygen in an emergency situation, during surgery or for an ongoing health condition. A healthcare provider might prescribe oxygen therapy if your oxygen levels are consistently low.

You may need oxygen therapy if you have:

• Asthma
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Cancer
• Cystic fibrosis
• Heart failure
• Infections, like pneumonia, COVID-19 or the flu
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Sleep apnea

People who live in or visit high-altitude areas may also need supplemental oxygen at times. This includes mountain climbers. Oxygen levels in the air are lower in high-altitude locations, which can lead to altitude sickness.

How does oxygen therapy work?

Supplemental oxygen gives your body extra oxygen through a mask on your face or cannula in your nose. If you can’t breathe on your own, a healthcare provider gives you oxygen through a tube in your windpipe (trachea).

You can get oxygen therapy at home, in a hospital or in another medical facility. Oxygen devices are either a tank filled with oxygen or a machine that pulls oxygen from the air.

What are the types of oxygen therapy systems?

There are many types of supplemental oxygen systems. The kind you get depends on your needs. Some devices are large and stay in one place. Others are small and portable. Types include:

• Compressed gas: This is 100% oxygen gas under pressure, stored in a metal cylinder. The cylinder has a regulator so you can control how much oxygen comes out. You might also have an oxygen-conserving device. This senses when you’re inhaling and stops the flow when you exhale. A gauge on the tank lets you know when you need a new cylinder.
• Liquid oxygen: This is oxygen stored as very cold liquid. It comes in a container shaped like a cylinder, but it’s smaller than compressed gas tanks. It converts the liquid to a gas that you breathe in.
• Oxygen concentrators:This device pulls air from the room. It filters the air, compressing oxygen and removing nitrogen. You breathe in the concentrated oxygen. Since it uses oxygen from the air around you, you don’t need a tank, and you won’t run out of oxygen.

What are the benefits?

Not getting enough oxygen can be fatal. Oxygen therapy can help your body get the oxygen it needs to keep your organs healthy and functioning. You may:

• Feel less breathless while doing activities
• Have more energy and be more physically active
• Have a better quality of life
• Sleep better

What are the side effects?

Supplemental oxygen can dry out your nasal passages, which can cause nosebleeds. Serious side effects can happen if you take in more oxygen than your body needs or if you use supplemental oxygen when you don’t need to. This is called oxygen toxicity or oxygen poisoning. It can slow your breathing and heart rate to dangerous levels.

Signs of oxygen poisoning include:

• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Muscle spasms
• Nausea
• Vision problems

Call 911 (or your local emergency service number) or go to the emergency room right away if you’re on oxygen and have symptoms of oxygen poisoning.

How long will I need oxygen therapy?

Some people with chronic conditions need supplemental oxygen for life. Others need it until they recover from a short-term illness or flare-up of an illness. Depending on your specific health needs, you may need to use oxygen all the time. Or you might need extra oxygen only when you sleep or exercise. Ask your healthcare provider what to expect.

When should I call the doctor?

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions about your oxygen device, including how and when to use it. Go to an emergency room or call 911 if you have:

• Chest pain
• Confusion or memory loss
• Dizziness
• Extreme shortness of breath
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe headaches

Is oxygen therapy safe?

Supplemental oxygen is generally safe to use. But there are some guidelines providers recommend you follow while using it. Oxygen isn’t flammable, but it can cause a fire to burn faster and stronger. The fire can become explosive.

Safety guidelines to follow while using supplemental oxygen include:

• Stay at least 5 feet from flames, including gas stoves, candles, fireplaces and firepits when using oxygen.
• Never smoke near an oxygen tank or while wearing oxygen.
• Stay at least 8 feet away from heat-producing devices, like heaters and electrical appliances.
• Secure oxygen tanks in an upright position to a stand or fixed object. Never roll an oxygen cylinder. A tank that falls over or rolls may crack, causing pressure that can make the tank explode.
• Store oxygen tanks in well-ventilated areas. This allows the small amounts of oxygen that could escape from the tank to disperse into the air instead of building up and becoming a fire hazard.
• Don’t use flammable materials like aerosol sprays, cleaning materials and oil (petroleum) products near an oxygen tank.
• Choose cotton clothes and bedding over wool, nylon and synthetic materials, which can create sparks from static electricity.
• Always have a fire extinguisher nearby and know how to use it. Make sure your smoke alarms work.