Oxygen is a medication that requires a prescription from a healthcare provider. You should only use oxygen therapy as a medical treatment. Your physician or nurse practitioner can prescribe oxygen based on your symptoms and results from an arterial blood test called an ABG (arterial blood gas). Additional testing such as pulse oximetry while at rest, sleeping or walking, lung function measurement, or cardiac history may indicate a need for a supplemental oxygen prescription. We work closely with your provider to arrange testing and follow up.

Every tissue and every cell in the body needs a constant supply of oxygen to work properly. If the amount of oxygen in the blood drops, the body's tissues and cells may not receive enough to keep functioning properly. Not enough oxygen in the bloodstream is called hypoxemia. Many lung, heart and blood conditions can make it difficult for oxygen to enter the blood. Using supplemental oxygen increases the amount of oxygen available to the body’s tissues.

Supplemental oxygen can help relieve symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness and depression in people with hypoxemia. You may be more alert, sleep better, be in a better mood and have more tolerance for activity. There is evidence that, for people who are hypoxemic, supplemental oxygen improves quality of life and even survival.

Your health care provider will write a prescription for when and how much you should wear your oxygen, based on the results of your testing. The prescription should specify the following:

• The appropriate oxygen flow rate or setting, expressed as liter flow of oxygen per minute (Lpm or L/min) that will keep your saturations at or above 90 percent
• When you should wear your oxygen (for instance, during activity, overnight or continuously)
• The type of equipment that will accommodate your lifestyle needs

It is probably a good idea to buy a finger oximeter, so that you are sure you are getting the right amount of supplemental oxygen. Finger oximeters are available on the internet, through medical supply companies and even in sporting goods stores.

There is no such thing as becoming "dependent on" or "addicted to" supplemental oxygen — everybody needs a constant supply of oxygen to live. If there is not enough oxygen in your bloodstream to supply your tissues and cells, then you need supplemental oxygen to maintain your health. Your body cannot store supplemental oxygen; it is used by your tissues and organs within minutes. 

The goal is to have you continue as many of your usual activities as you can. We provide portable oxygen equipment that will allow you to do these things. Choosing the right type of equipment for you and your lifestyle is very important — the right ambulatory oxygen equipment can play a major role in improving quality of life.