Oxygen therapy for pneumonia

Oxygen therapy increases the amount of oxygen in the lungs and the bloodstream. You may need oxygen therapy if there are signs that the cells of your body are not getting enough oxygen.

You may use oxygen therapy at home or in the hospital if you have low oxygen levels in your blood because of pneumonia. You can choose between a number of delivery systems and breathing devices.

Oxygen delivery systems

Oxygen delivery systems include:

• Concentrators, which take oxygen from the air. These machines are electrically powered and fairly heavy [about 30lb]. If you are using a concentrator, you may want to use a cylinder if you leave your house, as a cylinder is more portable than a concentrator. Concentrators are less expensive than other delivery systems.
• Cylinders of oxygen. They come in several sizes. The largest are too heavy to move around. Smaller cylinders can be carried and provide about 5 hours of oxygen. Cylinders are more expensive than concentrators, but less expensive than liquid oxygen.
• Cylinders of liquid oxygen. Compared to cylinders of oxygen, they contain more oxygen, weigh less, and are easier to use. However, they are the most expensive option.

You can breathe your oxygen through a face mask, or a flexible plastic tube inserted in your nostrils (nasal cannula).

• The nasal cannula gives you the greatest freedom for moving around and talking. But this method may be more expensive than other devices because of oxygen lost to the air. The amount of oxygen you actually breathe may be less than with other methods of delivery.
• A face mask is less portable and gets in the way of talking and eating.

Choose your oxygen delivery system based on your ability to move around. People who are homebound may find an oxygen concentrator gives them the best combination of convenience and cost.

In all oxygen delivery systems, the risk of fire or explosion is high if you use oxygen around lit cigarettes or an open flame. If you or those who care for you smoke, oxygen therapy may not be a good option.