Home Oxygen Therapy

Home oxygen is prescribed for patients who have low levels of oxygen in the blood (hypoxia) which is a symptom of many lung conditions, some heart conditions and occasionally other more rare conditions.  The oxygen helps protect vital organs (for example, the heart, the kidneys, the brain, etc.) from the effects of long term low oxygen levels.

Oxygen is a drug and patients must have a throrough assessment by an oxygen specialist before it is prescribed.  This is to ensure that only patients who will benefit from oxygen receive it and the correct dose of oxygen and equipment is ordered for the patient.

Unfortunately, home oxygen is a poor reliever of breathlessness so is not recommended for this symptom, unless oxygen levels are low.  However, there are other ways the team may be able to help, for example, adjusting your inhaled therapy or referring the patient for Pulmonary Rehabilitation.