Image via WikipediaWhen I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension I was put on oxygen for at least fifteen hours a day.This wasn`t basically to help me breath but to help my oxygen levels stay up above ninety and so stop me becoming breathless and having such symptoms as giddyness, pain in the chest and a very rapid heart rate.It is basically more a preventive measure than anything else.The oxygen is delivered via a oxygen concentrator, shown in the photograph, which is basically a machine that produces liquid oxygen.Nasal canulas are generally used which is a tube you put around your face with tubes that go up your nose.Most people have long leads on the concentrator so they can move about the home easily. At night people tend to have the machine away from the bedroom because it can be noisy.
Oxygen at a high level for a long period of time can damage peoples lung function but most people on oxygen with PH are on so low levels it cannot harm you at all. In fact oxygen can be of great benefit to sufferers as it not only guards against breathlessness it can also lower the PH pressure as oxygen given for fifteen or hours or more can help open up valves and reduce pressure on the heart.
Some people find it hard when they are told they need oxygen as they tend to think its a constant reminder they are ill and a sign there time is ending but I think they are wrong. Long term oxygen therapy is just one of a number of treatments that people are given with PH and it can make a big difference to peoples life. People should always look on it as a friend rather than a enemy.
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