What is Supplemental Oxygen? FAQs About Supplemental Oxygen Answered!

man with oxygen mask

If you suffer from low oxygen levels or struggle to breathe, you may need supplemental oxygen to help you. Supplemental oxygen brings desperately needed oxygen to your body, so your quality of life is improved. Supplemental oxygen helps relieve the symptoms of shortness of breath and lack of energy.

Supplemental oxygen is prescribed to patients when doctors are trying to treat the following disorders. This list is not inclusive but shows you how many disorders supplemental oxygen is prescribed for.

  • Pneumonia
  • Heart disease
  • Asthma
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Lung disorders and diseases
  • Respiratory trauma
  • Cystic Fibrosis, and more

When you have any of these disorders or other concerns, it is important to work with your medical care provider. It may take a few tests, some time, and effort, but your body will thank you.

Low Oxygen Levels

When you feel like you can’t get enough oxygen, there are ways to have it checked to find out what’s wrong. A doctor can test the amount of oxygen in your arterial blood. Sometimes doctors will use a pulse oximeter that can provide a reading on what your oxygen saturation level is.

Medical professionals grow concerned about your blood oxygen level when it is below 60mmHg (millimeters of mercury). Normal oxygen levels in your arterial blood run between 75 to 100mmHg. Any low-level readings of oxygen in your blood mean you are an excellent candidate for supplemental oxygen.

When supplemental oxygen is carried to your body by your red blood cells, it gives your body to renewed vigor. This product has many uses, and each use enhances the ability to breathe easier with oxygenated blood.

Oxygen Level While Sleeping

Body functions are precise and wondrous things. One of the most important body functions is blood oxygenation. Every tissue and cell you have needs a constant supply of oxygen.

The lungs are the main carrier of oxygen, and those lungs pass oxygen into the bloodstream through tiny air sacs called alveoli. You have millions of these sacs in your body, and they work night and day. But at night while you sleep, your oxygen levels drop off.

This lower level of oxygen is due to your breathing and respiration going down. The lower levels of oxygen is also a natural occurrence that happens while you sleep. Some of your sacs drop out of use while you sleep too.

Your oxygen saturation levels when you are awake and breathing are greater than 94 percent. When you are sleeping the normal oxygen saturation level is less than 88 percent.

Blood Oxygen Level

If you don’t have enough oxygen in your blood, you will feel the physical symptoms. All organs of the body can be affected when not enough oxygen is getting to them. Low oxygen levels are very hard on the brain, heart, and kidneys.

Symptoms of Low Oxygen Level in Blood

The symptoms you may experience with your oxygen levels are too low is:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Tired and Lack of Energy
  • Dizziness
  • Depression
  • Headaches
  • Sleep Apnea

You should see a doctor immediately when you notice you are having any of these symptoms. Another very concerning symptom you may experience is abrupt awakening, which is accompanied by a feeling you’re choking. You should also go to a doctor as soon as possible if when you are exercising or sitting down, you cannot catch your breath.

Blood Oxygen Levels and Blood Pressure

It is always worth getting checked out and having your blood oxygen levels checked to keep your body healthy. Many people don’t realize it is blood pressure that serves as a vital force in oxygen getting to your body organs. Blood pressure is what pushes the oxygen-rich blood to all parts of your body.

That’s why when your blood pressure is too high or too low, doctors grow concerned about its effect on the rest of your body.

Supplemental Oxygen

There is no substitute for supplemental oxygen. Nothing will give you the same health effect it provides. Once you are prescribed supplemental oxygen by a physician, they will test you to determine when and how much of it you will need.

When and Where Do You Use Supplemental Oxygen?

Your prescription will come with specific information about your supplemental oxygen needs. It will include specifications like:

  • The appropriate oxygen flow rate or setting
  • When you should wear and use your supplemental oxygen
  • The type of supplemental oxygen equipment that suits your lifestyle

Your health provider will be able to determine if you are getting the right amount of the prescribed oxygen by measuring your oxygen levels. Your oxygen saturation levels will be measured while you are using your oxygen. They will test you while you are walking, running, sitting, and sleeping.

The ultimate medical goal is to get your body’s oxygen saturation level in the ’90s, if at all possible. You may or may not always need supplemental oxygen once you start taking it. Your continuation is based on the reason why the oxygen was prescribed.

Many times, lung and heart conditions improve with medication or surgery, meaning you won’t have to continue taking supplemental oxygen.

What’s the Next Step?

Anyone concerned enough to wonder or be concerned about their shortness of breath and tiredness needs to get checked out by a medical provider as soon as possible. There is supplemental oxygen equipment that helps you almost as soon as you start using it.

Everyone who needs supplemental oxygen should use it. The benefits are worth it. The benefits include, but are not limited to:

  • Being more alert
  • Sleeping better without interruption
  • Your energy levels and mood gets better
  • Stop having bad headaches

There is nothing more important than your health and wellbeing. If there is a way to give you back your body’s vigor you need to try it. The ultimate goal when you use supplemental oxygen is to be able to participate in as many activities as you can.

When you choose your supplemental oxygen machine, it needs to fit your lifestyle as well as your health needs. You are using supplemental oxygen to improve the quality of your life. There is nothing more important than that.

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