Oxygen therapy is a technique designed to deliver medically therapeutic amounts of oxygen to individuals with various breathing impairments. Doctors prescribe oxygen flow rates that match the needs of each patient.
The Facts
According to the American Thoracic Society, doctors determine the need for supplemental oxygen by measuring the oxygen, carbon dioxide and pH level of a blood sample. This analysis is called an arterial blood gas (ABG) test.
Prescription Treatment
Doctors prescribe home oxygen flow rates in the same manner they prescribe conventional medications. Patients should not increase or lower these rates without a doctor's consent.
Increasing Oxygen Flow
Increasing the flow of oxygen above the prescribed level can trigger a potentially dangerous decrease in a patient's breathing rate.
Tracking Oxygen Levels
Doctors track the ongoing need for oxygen with a pulse oximeter, which reads oxygen levels by evaluating the color of light passed through a patient's finger. They may adjust the prescribed oxygen flow as needed.
Considerations
Lowering the flow of home oxygen below the prescribed level may deplete the oxygen in heart and brain tissue, leading to changes in heart function or memory loss.
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