Breath Easy: The Complete, Plain-English Guide to Oxygen Concentrators

Do you sometimes feel like it is hard to catch your breath? Or maybe someone in your family, like a grandparent, deals with this breathing trouble every day.

Sometimes your doctor will tell you that you need extra oxygen to help you feel better. When that happens, your care team might recommend a medical device called an oxygen concentrator.

Let us walk through what an oxygen concentrator is, how it works, the different types you can get, and the safety rules you must follow.

What is an Oxygen Concentrator?

An oxygen concentrator is a medical machine. If you have a lung disease or another health issue that makes breathing hard, this machine helps give your body the oxygen it needs.

Think about a traditional oxygen tank. Once the gas inside runs out, you have to go get it refilled. An oxygen concentrator works differently and never runs out of gas.

The machine takes in the air all around you, removes unwanted gases like nitrogen, and makes pure oxygen at ninety to ninety-five percent purity. It then delivers this oxygen right to you through a plastic mask over your nose and mouth or through a soft plastic tube with two prongs that sit in your nose, called a nasal cannula.

This is very important: You should only use an oxygen concentrator if your doctor prescribes it for you. If you take too much oxygen on your own, it can harm your lungs over a long period.

What Are the Main Types Available?

Oxygen concentrators fall into two main categories. You can review this table to understand the differences between them.

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What Health Conditions Require an Oxygen Concentrator?

If you have one of the health conditions listed below, your doctor may recommend an oxygen concentrator:

• Asthma .
• Bronchitis .
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, also known as COPD .
• Cystic Fibrosis .
• Emphysema .
• Heart Failure .
• Lung Cancer .
• Pneumonia .
• Chest injuries that affect your breathing, such as broken ribs or bruised lungs .
• Sleep Apnea .

In addition, some athletes and travelers use these devices when they go to high mountain areas. As you climb higher, the air holds less oxygen. Because exercise demands more oxygen from your body, these machines help support your breathing.

How Does the Machine Make Oxygen?

The process inside the machine is quite fascinating. Think of it like a high-tech strainer.

The air we breathe every day contains about twenty percent oxygen. The rest is mostly nitrogen gas. The machine takes that air and removes the nitrogen so only oxygen remains.

1. Pulling in air: First, the machine uses a filter to pull in the room air around you.
2. Compressing the air: Next, a compressor squeezes that air tightly inside the unit, much like pumping up a bicycle tire.
3. Separating the nitrogen: The machine sends the squeezed air through a special filter system with tiny holes. Nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen molecules, so the nitrogen gets trapped in the filter. The smaller oxygen molecules slip right through to the other side.
4. Delivering the oxygen: The pure oxygen gathers together and flows through a tube directly to you.

How Long Can You Use It Continuously?

How long you can run your machine depends on the device type and how many batteries you have.

• Portable units: A portable unit with one battery usually runs for two to six hours. A unit with two batteries can run for five to thirteen hours.
• Stationary units: Because these plug into your home power outlet, they run continuously as long as you have electricity.

How Many Hours Per Day Do You Need Oxygen?

Your doctor decides your schedule based on your specific health needs. Some people need oxygen for at least fifteen hours a day. Other people need oxygen twenty-four hours a day.

If you have a short-term condition like pneumonia, you may only use the device until you heal. If you have a long-term condition like COPD, you may need to use it for the rest of your life.

What Are the Benefits and Safety Drawbacks?

Major Benefits

The biggest benefit is that it makes breathing much easier. While the machine might not cure your disease, it gives you great relief from shortness of breath.

When your blood oxygen level goes up, you feel less tired, gain more energy, and sleep better at night.

Another great benefit is that you do not need to refill tanks. As long as you have electricity or charged batteries, you have an unlimited supply of oxygen.

Drawbacks and Essential Safety Rules

You must keep your oxygen concentrator at least ten feet away from the following items:

• Cigarettes, cigars, and pipes .
• Lit stoves and fireplaces .
• Gas or electric ovens .
• Barbecue grills .
• Petrol, kerosene, and paint thinners .
• Oily products, such as petroleum jelly like Vaseline .
• Rubbing alcohol .

You should also avoid using the following electrical devices near your oxygen machine because they can make sparks that start a fire:

• Hair dryers .
• Electric blankets .
• Space heaters .
• Electric razors .
• Vape pens .

When Should You Call Your Doctor?

While you use oxygen therapy, watch for signs of too much oxygen, known as oxygen toxicity, or too little oxygen, known as hypoxia.

If you use an oxygen machine, keep a pulse oximeter nearby. This is a small clip-on device that goes on your finger to let you check your blood oxygen level quickly.

If you think your machine is not working right or if it sounds an alert, call your doctor right away. If you have severe breathing trouble, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK or go to the nearest emergency department right away.