Mom is on Oxygen Treatment At Home

When my Mom was sent home from the hospital this week, her cardiologist doctor prescribed oxygen therapy at home.

I just Googled “oxygen, medical, in home” and received more than ½ million hits—many of which are medical supply distributors.

Here is an excerpt from one supplier:

Why do some people need extra oxygen?

When the body cells do not get enough oxygen, a condition called hypoxia results. Hypoxia can cause shortness of breath and make the heart beat faster and have an irregular rhythm, causing restlessness and confusion.

What causes shortness of breath?

Here are some situations that may cause people to experience a shortage of oxygen:
--The lungs may not be providing enough oxygen to the blood
--The heart may not be pumping the correct amount of oxygen
--The blood may not be carrying enough oxygen to the cells

Your doctor's prescription
If you have hypoxia, your doctor may prescribe oxygen. Like other medications, it is important that you use oxygen exactly as it is prescribed. An exact flow rate, in liters per minute, is prescribed to increase the supply of oxygen to your body cells to the proper level. This flow rate must never vary from the amount your doctor prescribes. Too much oxygen can be just as harmful as too little.In addition to an exact flow rate, your doctor will specify the length of time that you should use oxygen each day. Never vary from these instructions without first consulting your physician.

Safety precautions
Oxygen does not explode and it does not burn, but an atmosphere enriched with oxygen will make a fire burn faster and hotter. To avoid the chance of fire and other possible hazards associated with oxygen, here are some basic tips.

--DO NOT place oxygen containers near radiators, heat ducts, stoves or any other sources of heat.
--DO NOT oil or grease oxygen equipment.
--DO NOT leave oxygen turned on when not in use.