Improve Your Quality of Life with a Portable Oxygen Concentrator

There was a huge reliance on oxygen tanks for people who were in need of continuous oxygen therapy in the past. Compressed oxygen was filled in these oxygen tanks to provide a continuous supply of oxygen to patients. A huge disadvantage with these oxygen tanks was that they were expensive, limiting, and bulky. Fortunately, patients can go online in this internet-dominated era and find both used and new high-quality oxygen concentrators.

Not only are these portable oxygen concentrators cheaper, but they are smaller. Furthermore, they do not rely on a limited supply of oxygen since they are able to create their oxygen. Fortunately for seniors, you can have your costs covered by Medicare if you act now.

These oxygen concentrators are lightweight, making them convenient for patients to carry around. However, apart from the above benefits, there are some other benefits associated with portable oxygen concentrators. They are:

1. Easier Travel Due to Better Mobility

For patients relying on oxygen tanks, it may be challenging to travel, especially by airplanes. Passengers traveling on an airplane are exposed to a significant decrease in air pressure. Although most people may fail to notice this, air pressure decreases people suffering from lung diseases and makes them not travel by airplanes. Making matters worse, airline authorities prohibit passengers from carrying along liquid or gaseous oxygen tanks with them on flights.

Fortunately for people suffering from lung diseases, multiple portable oxygen concentrators have been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for use on flights. [2] If you are a patient who uses portable oxygen concentrators, it is advisable to check with your airline’s approved portable oxygen concentrators before booking a flight.

For those who can disconnect from their oxygen concentrators, you can use your carry-on bag to carry it or check it in your luggage. If you wish not to disconnect, the Transportation Safety Administration can carry out a pat-down search on you.

On top of flights, it is also possible for patients to bring their portable oxygen concentrators with them when traveling by either train or car. You can charge these oxygen concentrators using the car’s charger as these oxygen concentrators have A/C adapters. Besides, Amtrak allows patients to travel with their portable oxygen concentrators.

Portable oxygen concentrators have reduced risk compared to oxygen tanks since they concentrate oxygen from the air rather than carrying compressed oxygen. Besides, they are small and are lightweight, making them easier and convenient to travel with.

2. An Option for Treatment of COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an incurable chronic condition that affects the lungs and gradually gets worse as time goes on. Although this condition has no cure, there are available treatments that help manage its symptoms. The COPD Foundation estimates that there are about 30 million Americans who suffer from COPD. [1]

As COPD progresses over time, the patients may experience a shortage of oxygen due to shortness of breath. For this reason, patients suffering from this disease require a supplement of oxygen. However, if they use oxygen tanks for oxygen therapy, they may find it difficult to leave their homes as these tanks are bulky.

Fortunately for people suffering from COPD, there are portable oxygen concentrators. They are compact and require no refilling as they are able to create oxygen by concentrating it from the air. Portable oxygen concentrators are light, with some weighing as little as five pounds. Their small weight makes it possible for patients to carry them in a shoulder bag.

Due to the advancements in battery technology over the past few years, portable oxygen concentrators of today are able to last up to 12 hours on a single charge. Furthermore, these concentrators have A/C adapters that allow patients to plug them in a power source and recharge them anywhere at any time, even while on the go.

3. Improvement in Every Area of Life

Oxygen therapy patients using oxygen tanks often experience some disadvantages in some areas of their life. However, this is not the case for those using portable oxygen concentrators.

Being able to move about freely anywhere you wish can significantly improve your mood and allow your mind to focus on other things other than the feeling of isolation in your home. By using portable oxygen concentrators, oxygen therapy patients are able to enjoy recreational and social activities with ease.

Another way that portable oxygen concentrators make life better for oxygen therapy patients is by improving their sleep. These concentrators allow patients to set them to deliver a constant oxygen supply while they are sleeping, enabling them to have a restful sleep. If the patients are able to get enough and uninterrupted sleep at night, they are completely active and productive during the day.

Besides, a portable oxygen concentrator enhances an oxygen therapy patient’s ability to exercise since it provides the required oxygen to support intense exercises, ensuring the patient will not fall short of breath. Furthermore, portable oxygen concentrators are lightweight and small. For this reason, they are convenient and offer greater independence by allowing the patient to carry out their daily activities at ease.

What is the Cost of Portable Oxygen Concentrators?

Several factors affect the cost of a portable oxygen concentrator. They include the amount of oxygen the concentrator can hold and the weight of the concentrator. According to reports by CostHelper, the price of portable oxygen concentrators rages from $2,000 to $6,000. [3] Besides, a patient can rent one for a monthly fee.

Patients with health conditions that require oxygen therapy or continuous oxygen can get a portable oxygen concentrator at a subsidized fee. At times, they can get one for free if their health insurance by companies such as Medicare can cover the cost of the machine, especially if they have a recommendation or prescription from the doctor.

Before buying your portable oxygen concentrator, it is advisable to check with your insurance company. Some insurance policies require patients to rent portable oxygen concentrators or meet certain conditions to cover the costs. An example of such insurance is Medicare.

First, it is advisable to do comparison shopping or conduct online research to find the best deal at a relatively lower price. You can do an online search for different types or sizes of portable oxygen concentrators to compare available insurance coverage options and prices.

sources:

[1] https://www.copdfoundation.org/What-is-COPD/Understanding-COPD/Statistics.aspx

[2] https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/cabin_safety/portable_oxygen/

[3] https://health.costhelper.com/oxygen-concentrator.html