How Oxygen Concentrators Work and What They Do

Oxygen concentrators have become a useful way to bring concentrated oxygen to those with breathing disorders. They have been successfully used to treat chronic conditions such as COPD, as well as temporary ones such as pneumonia.

In the past, the first oxygen concentrators were bulky and heavy pieces of equipment that made going about a normal day with them extremely difficult. Today, oxygen concentrators have stream lined into small lunch box sized packages that can be easily carried over a shoulder even by the elderly.

What are oxygen concentrators?

Oxygen concentrators help those with low oxygen levels get more oxygen. It does this by taking regular air from its surroundings, purifying it, and pressurizing it as necessary. The filtering process removes impurities as well as much of the nitrogen commonly found in air, and delivers concentrated oxygen to the user.

An oxygen concentrator can give the user 95%-100% oxygen. With more oxygen in each breath they take, their ability to get the oxygen they need is improved. The oxygen concentrator has tubes connected to a mask that deliver the oxygen to the user.

Most oxygen concentrators have two settings, a continuous flow setting that gives you a stream of pressurized air, and a pulse dose that only delivers air when you are breathing in. The pulse dose is usually used during the day in order to conserve battery, and the continuous flow at night when it can be plugged directly into the wall.

The concentrated oxygen makes it easier for users to get the oxygen they need, because there is so much more of it available in each breath. It's a great help for anyone who has a breathing condition that may cause their blood oxygen levels to drop.

Oxygen concentrators can't be purchased over the counter. You will need a prescription from a doctor in order to get access to one. A doctor will usually prescribe an oxygen concentrator after diagnosing a condition that requires it, as well as testing for low oxygen levels.

What are the advantages of an oxygen concentrator?

Oxygen concentrators are safer and more cost effective than the canister method of oxygen therapy. A canister is dangerous because if the canister is somehow pierced, it can lead to a dangerous explosion. The heavy canisters need to be replaced regularly, and can make going about your day difficult.

An oxygen concentrator eliminates many of these problems. Since the concentrator gets oxygen directly from the surrounding air, it does not need a canister. That means not only is it safer, but also that it doesn't need to be constantly replaced in order to continue providing oxygen therapy.

Although these features are very important, the most popular function of the concentrator is that it is much lighter than canisters of oxygen. The light weight makes it easier to travel, and is no more burdensome than a purse or briefcase.

Conditions that benefit from oxygen therapy

A number of conditions can benefit from oxygen therapy. An oxygen concentrator can be used for both acute and chronic conditions. Some of these conditions include:

Asthma

Asthma is caused when the airways become inflamed and coated with mucus. Many different things can trigger an asthma episode, including exercise and allergies. When an episode happens, the afflicted person experiences shortness of breath due to their sudden restriction in breathing.

Oxygen therapy can help by giving them more oxygen with each breath, so that they can continue to keep their oxygen at good levels even when it is difficult to breathe.

Pneumonia

When the lungs become infected, it can sometimes lead to pneumonia. When this happens the lungs become filled with puss and liquid. This is a serious condition which can be deadly due to someone's inability to get oxygen.

An oxygen concentrator can be life saving for those with pneumonia, helping them breathe during this difficult time.

Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Sometimes, newborns, especially those who were born premature, can struggle to get enough oxygen to breathe. These babies don't make enough of a coating on the lungs known as surfactant, and because of this their lungs can collapse.

Oxygen therapy is a potentially life saving treatment that gives the infant as much oxygen as possible, giving them a chance to grow and develop.

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is a chronic disease that makes it very hard to breathe. The condition causes the passage ways to the lungs to become obstructed, and is caused by breathing in irritating gasses such as cigarette smoke.

There is no cure for COPD, but oxygen therapy can bring relief.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep is meant to be restful, but for those with sleep apnea it can be dangerous. When someone has sleep apnea, their breathing stops and starts while they are resting. Sleep apnea can be improved through weight loss, but in the mean time a CPAP machine may be used to help improve sleep.

A CPAP machine gives continuous positive air. Pressurized air helps keep breathing passages open, so the patient experiences a restful night's sleep. In very severe cases of sleep apnea however, oxygen therapy may also be used.

There are many other conditions that may benefit from oxygen therapy. If a person is in a position where their blood oxygen is dropping, oxygen therapy may be recommended for them. This could be short term, such as extra help after surgery, or long term, such as with cystic fibrosis. Your doctor will be able to confirm whether oxygen therapy will benefit you, and give you a prescription for an oxygen concentrator if necessary.

The bottom line

An oxygen concentrator is useful for anyone with a condition that causes their blood oxygen levels to fall to unacceptable levels. Oxygen concentrators are much more popular than canisters due to the level of freedom they offer, as well as for safety reasons.