Managing your oxygen
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Why do I need oxygen at home?
Oxygen helps you breathe and is important if you have a lung condition or have been very ill with a chest infection or virus such as COVID. If you needed oxygen from a machine in hospital, or you were referred by your GP for an oxygen assessment, you might need oxygen equipment to help you breathe when you are at home. The oxygen equipment will give you the right amount of oxygen to help you breathe. It is important that:- You do not change the settings on your oxygen equipment
- Use the equipment daily as advised
- Getting ready
- Washing up
- Moving around at home
How do I use oxygen?
When the NHS delivers your oxygen equipment, they will show you how to use it. Sometimes this is done by an NHS worker from the home oxygen team or the oxygen provider who both help you to manage your oxygen. If you need oxygen daily, you might have a machine that plugs in and filters oxygen already in the air for you to breathe. You will get information about switching the machine on and off and how to look after it, such as keeping it clean. If you get oxygen equipment, you will also get an oxygen cylinder, which holds oxygen in a tank. Someone will show you how to use the oxygen cylinder if your equipment stops working. If you do not need oxygen all the time, you may get a small machine or cylinder that allows you to move around. Return to TopHow will the oxygen affect my life?
Having oxygen at home should not affect your daily life. If you have any worries or problems, you could speak to your:- Doctor
- Nurse
- Oxygen team
Oxygen Safety
Oxygen is important to help you breathe, but you must follow safety rules when you have oxygen equipment in your house because it can spread fire. Carefully read the information the oxygen team gives you. The local fire service can help you to store oxygen safely:- No one should smoke cigarettes, e-cigarettes or vapes near oxygen equipment
- There should not be any flames such as a gas cooker or matches near oxygen equipment
- Be careful not to trip over the oxygen tubes as oxygen could leak out, and you could fall and hurt yourself
Travelling with Oxygen
If you are travelling by car, make sure you move your portable oxygen equipment safely and securely:- In the car boot
- Behind the front seats
- Strapped into the back seat using the seatbelt
Will the oxygen make me feel less breathless?
Oxygen is not a treatment to help you when you are feeling breathless (Find out more about breathlessness). Getting out of breath doesn’t always mean you need oxygen. Some people with heart and lung problems may need some support. If you have oxygen at home, it might help you:- To do more activities before you get out of breath
- To do activities for longer before you get out of breath
- To get your breath back quicker when you get out of breath
What if my oxygen levels change at home?
You will be advised about the amount of oxygen you need and what oxygen levels to look out for. You may have a small oxygen monitor or oximeter – a clip that goes on your finger to read the oxygen levels in your blood so you can check it yourself at home. If your oxygen levels are too high or low, you must contact your:- Doctor
- Nurse
- Oxygen team
- Feel more out of breath than normal
- You are breathing more quickly
- Have a headache, particularly in the morning
- Feel restless or like you cannot calm down
- Feel dizzy
- Feel confused and find it hard to focus