Treatment for respiratory conditions can vary greatly depending on the severity of the condition. While most asthma sufferers will get by just fine on an inhaler, more severe cases of that condition and other diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) often call for more intensive treatment such as oxygen therapy.Oxygen therapy is a term usually used to refer to the administration of concentrated oxygen to patients suffering from low oxygen levels caused by their condition. The treatment usually consists of a concentrator and equipment used to attach the patient to the machine.While the treatment is proven to improve the condition and wellbeing of patients, the size of the equipment involved often means that patients are restricted in their movements. This can affect a patient's social life and can have adverse side effects including social isolation and depression.Luckily, there is a solution to these undesirable effects - portable oxygen concentrators. Taking the technology commonly employed by static concentrators, these pieces of equipment offer most of the advantages of a standard machine with the added benefit of mobility.Before listing the advantages of using a POC, it should be noted that this treatment option isn't available to all sufferers. Before considering a POC, you should first consult your doctor to discuss your oxygen needs.It may be the case that a POC simply doesn't fit your requirements, while POC's aren't recommended for people with a history of heart conditions. Generally, you will need a doctor's referral to purchase or rent a POC.The main advantage of a portable oxygen concentrator is obviously its mobility. But surely capacity is sacrificed in order to allow for this mobility? Well, unfortunately, that is true. However, POC manufacturers' have built a range of machines in all sorts of capacities - while the mobility of a device decreases with the more oxygen capacity it is capable of holding (and vice versa), there should be a portable solution for most oxygen patients.This is also the case when it comes to delivery options. Almost all POC's will offer a pulse dose delivery option, while continuous delivery is also a common feature in larger POCs. In fact, that isn't strictly true; the size of devices capable of delivering continuous oxygen is decreasing all the time. Some POC's even offer a sleep mode, which detects when you take a breath as you sleep and delivers oxygen accordingly.Given the vital importance of the function they carry out, manufacturers' have worked hard at ensuring that their portable oxygen concentrators are extremely durable, meaning that users can leave the house without worrying that the slightest jolt may affect their oxygen supply. Most concentrators are subjected to rigorous durability testing and can take quite a lot - although it's not recommended you test this out yourself!Opting for a portable oxygen concentrator also opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to travel. You should be able to take most concentrators on the road with you without having to worry about the power running out; most batteries will last a couple of hours when fully charged, and a lot of POC's come bundled with multiple batteries too. Air travel can prove a bit of a problem when it comes to travelling with a POC, so consult with the airline before flying.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The Advantages of Portable Oxygen Concentrators
Treatment for respiratory conditions can vary greatly depending on the severity of the condition. While most asthma sufferers will get by just fine on an inhaler, more severe cases of that condition and other diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) often call for more intensive treatment such as oxygen therapy.Oxygen therapy is a term usually used to refer to the administration of concentrated oxygen to patients suffering from low oxygen levels caused by their condition. The treatment usually consists of a concentrator and equipment used to attach the patient to the machine.While the treatment is proven to improve the condition and wellbeing of patients, the size of the equipment involved often means that patients are restricted in their movements. This can affect a patient's social life and can have adverse side effects including social isolation and depression.Luckily, there is a solution to these undesirable effects - portable oxygen concentrators. Taking the technology commonly employed by static concentrators, these pieces of equipment offer most of the advantages of a standard machine with the added benefit of mobility.Before listing the advantages of using a POC, it should be noted that this treatment option isn't available to all sufferers. Before considering a POC, you should first consult your doctor to discuss your oxygen needs.It may be the case that a POC simply doesn't fit your requirements, while POC's aren't recommended for people with a history of heart conditions. Generally, you will need a doctor's referral to purchase or rent a POC.The main advantage of a portable oxygen concentrator is obviously its mobility. But surely capacity is sacrificed in order to allow for this mobility? Well, unfortunately, that is true. However, POC manufacturers' have built a range of machines in all sorts of capacities - while the mobility of a device decreases with the more oxygen capacity it is capable of holding (and vice versa), there should be a portable solution for most oxygen patients.This is also the case when it comes to delivery options. Almost all POC's will offer a pulse dose delivery option, while continuous delivery is also a common feature in larger POCs. In fact, that isn't strictly true; the size of devices capable of delivering continuous oxygen is decreasing all the time. Some POC's even offer a sleep mode, which detects when you take a breath as you sleep and delivers oxygen accordingly.Given the vital importance of the function they carry out, manufacturers' have worked hard at ensuring that their portable oxygen concentrators are extremely durable, meaning that users can leave the house without worrying that the slightest jolt may affect their oxygen supply. Most concentrators are subjected to rigorous durability testing and can take quite a lot - although it's not recommended you test this out yourself!Opting for a portable oxygen concentrator also opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to travel. You should be able to take most concentrators on the road with you without having to worry about the power running out; most batteries will last a couple of hours when fully charged, and a lot of POC's come bundled with multiple batteries too. Air travel can prove a bit of a problem when it comes to travelling with a POC, so consult with the airline before flying.
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