Choosing a Portable Oxygen Concentrator

Oxygen therapy is used to treat a wide range of illnesses including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and cystic fibrosis. The treatment is mainly used as a way of alleviating breathing difficulties and low oxygen levels in patients. The treatment is either administered as and when a patient needs it or on a constant day and night basis.

Oxygen therapy patients were often confined to their homes in the past as treatment was provided by static oxygen concentrators (especially if the patient required constant flow oxygen). As a result, the social lives of many patients can suffer as they are unable to leave the house and therefore leave their oxygen supply.

Thankfully, advances in oxygen technology have led to a wide range of portable oxygen concentrators becoming available on the market at reasonable prices. These portable oxygen concentrators, or POCs for short, allow patients to leave the house and go about their lives as usual while still receiving their vital supply of oxygen.

The first step to choosing a POC is to check that you are actually able to use one. Unfortunately, POCs aren?t suitable for every oxygen patient, especially if you have suffered with heart issues in the past. Consult your regular doctor to make sure you?re suitable for oxygen treatment. You?ll also need proof of their approval in order to purchase a POC.

The main consideration when buying a POC is determining whether it can match your oxygen requirements. As size decreases, the volume of oxygen a POC can produce also goes down. It may be the case that you have to buy a slightly bulkier device in order to match your requirements.

You?ll also need to think about the kind of oxygen delivery options the device offers. Quite a few oxygen patients are able to rely on pulse dose therapy (receiving oxygen as you take a breath) but some patients do require continuous flow oxygen on a regular basis. Only a select few POCs offer both pulse and continuous oxygen, so make sure to check beforehand. The good news is that the amount of devices offering both modes is increasing and their size is decreasing.

Another key aspect of choosing a POC is to consider where you?ll be taking your oxygen concentrator and for how long you?ll be carrying it around. If you?re planning on long journeys then it?s best to go for a lightweight POC that won?t tire you out from carting it around. Durability is another key consideration. Most POCs are tested extensively in terms of facing the elements and performing its function regardless of any excessive bumps, but it?s worth checking out any reviews a POC may have for a ?real? patient perspective separate from the manufacturer.

One of the big problems POC users face is travelling by air; if you?re planning on going abroad regularly then it is essential that your device complies with airline regulations. The use of Portable Oxygen Concentrators on airplanes is regulated by FAA guidelines and generally a POC that meets these standards will make this clear. Some airlines also offer hire options if your POC doesn?t comply, but remember to take all of the above points into consideration before hiring. Also remember that you won?t be able to charge your POC on board, so take a couple of fully charged batteries to avoid any potential issues.

Christopher Joseph Smith is writing on behalf of Pure O2, specialists in Portable Oxygen

Source: http://toddsblogs.com/healthandfitness/2012/08/14/choosing-a-portable-oxygen-concentrator/

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