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Reviewed by Laura Castricone, Respiratory Therapist, on September 8, 2022
Introduction | Symptoms | Treatment | Oxygen Therapy | FAQs
Breathing is perhaps the most essential physiological process. Any issue with your lungs affects the quality of your life and impacts your overall well-being. One such grave issue that can trouble your lungs is pneumonia. Imagine trying to breathe, but with each breath, you can feel pain and discomfort. Pneumonia affects approximately 450 million people globally and can cost millions in healthcare costs. Pneumonia can cause our lungs to reduce the amount of oxygen delivered to the body through our red blood cells. It is common to treat bacterial pneumonia with antibiotics while viral pneumonia can receive other treatments such as breathing treatments or oxygen therapy to increase pneumonia oxygen saturation levels in the blood.
Pneumonia is an infection caused by bacteria or viruses that can enter the lungs while one inhales. Normally, this infection does not affect the health much and is treated in 2-3 weeks, but if one has underlying health issues, such as asthma or COPD, the lungs and the entire body have a much tougher time fighting off these foreign pathogens. As a matter of fact, Pneumonia causes inflammation of the lung parenchyma which affects the alveoli and the transfer of oxygen to red blood cells. The air sacs present in the lungs solidify due to the pus filled in them and causing inflammation.
Pneumonia symptoms can be acute and can materialize suddenly. They include:
These symptoms can be a sign of infection in the lungs that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs and can make it difficult to fully expand during inhalation. Often pneumonia can be treated at home, but underlying health issues can create a more dangerous situation and may require hospitalization. Take my word for it; this is not something to be taken lightly!!
Most people treat the early stage of pneumonia at home by controlling their fever, drinking lots of fluids, staying away from smoke, taking steamy baths, and using humidifiers. But when coughing and other symptoms become severe and are incontrollable, one must visit a medical expert. Taking medications as prescribed by a health professional is important. Generally, bacterial pneumonia is treated with antibiotics and for viral pneumonia, the health expert may prescribe an antiviral medication treatment. In most cases, pneumonia can be treated with symptoms management and rest but when pneumonia is so severe that a patient needs to get hospitalized, in addition to IV fluids and antibiotics, supplemented oxygen therapy and possibly other breathing treatments are also given.
The need for oxygen therapy is diagnosed by checking the oxygen saturation levels in pneumonia patients. Our lungs take in air and transfer oxygen to our red blood cells to be circulated throughout our body. It is the oxygen saturation in our arterial blood that determines if we need to intake additional oxygen. This saturation rate can be measured by a pulse oximeter. When the transfer of oxygen is hindered by bacteria, the use of oxygen therapy for pneumonia can help introduce oxygen into our bloodstream.
Breathing treatment for pneumonia is all about oxygen supplementation. Oxygen supplementation can be provided in two ways-
Oxygen therapy can be given to treat pneumonia via several medical aids that include:
DeVilbiss iFill oxygen cylinders are compatible with the DeVilbiss iFill personal oxygen station and are available in various sizes to meet all supplemental oxygen therapy needs of patients. Each size is available with 870 Post Valve, Continuous Flow, or Pulse Dose Oxygen Conserving Device options. In conjunction with the oxygen station, the user can use the surrounding air to fill the oxygen cylinders. This makes refilling oxygen cylinders easier and gives the user greater freedom and independence.
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| DeVilbiss iFill Oxygen Cylinders |
Compatible with the Invacare HomeFill oxygen compressor, Invacare HomeFill CGA870 Post Valve Cylinders can be filled at the convenience of the user. They are designed for those who need oxygen treatment for pneumonia and are on the go. Made from aluminum, these oxygen cylinders are used by patients who have a tough time extracting oxygen from the air they breathe and for use with CGA870 post valve compatible conservators or regulators.
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| Invacare HomeFill CGA870 Post Valve Cylinders | Invacare HomeFill Oxygen Compressor |
When pneumonia treatment requires a patient to utilize supplemental oxygen, Perfecto2 indoor oxygen concentrator separates nitrogen from the surrounding air to provide a high concentration of oxygen via a nasal cannula directly. The oxygen purity of this unit is 87%-95.6% at all flow rates while incorporating three separate filters to purify the air.
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| Invacare Perfecto2 V Five Liter Oxygen Concentrator With SensO2 Oxygen Sensor |
For those who are dependent upon oxygen therapy to deal with pneumonia, comfort is the key to patient compliance. This clear, lightweight Salter Style 1600 Series Nasal Oxygen Cannula features a unique, one-piece design which maximizes patient comfort. In order to provide secure positioning and maximizing freedom of movement, it has an over the ear design with curved, tapered nasal prongs for a better anatomical fit and comfort. The three channel safety tubing provides uninterrupted oxygen flow and the curved tubing fits the upper lip and is perfect for long-term use.
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| Salter Style 1600 Series Adult Clear Nasal Oxygen Cannula | |
EasyPulse Portable Oxygen Concentrator provides supplemental oxygen to ambulatory patients requiring oxygen therapy. Wherever you are, the EasyPulse POC provides continuous delivery of pure oxygen without worrying about running out of oxygen or carrying heavy tanks around.
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| Precision Medical EasyPulse Portable Oxygen Concentrator |
Drive SmartDose Mini Auto Adjusting Oxygen Conserver automatically senses the breath rate of the user and adjusts the oxygen flow accordingly. This gives the user peace of mind knowing that their supplemental oxygen therapy for pneumonia is always spot on. This conserver produces an operating pressure range of 500-3000 psi and allows patients to ambulate longer than with a continuous flow regulator on the same cylinder. It eliminates wastage and maximizes oxygen for pneumonia patients.
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| Drive SmartDose Mini Auto Adjusting Oxygen Conserver |
There is no doubt that oxygen therapy helps in pneumonia and other respiratory issues. A patient may feel relieved with oxygen therapy but it is very important to understand a few things before you choose the right source of oxygen therapy. These are:
Patients seeking treatment for pneumonia might require oxygen therapy constantly. Oxygen concentrators work on the technology that extracts O2 from the air without a limit as long as there is air. O2 concentrators are less expensive than oxygen tanks or cylinders. Thus, it makes oxygen therapy via an oxygen concentrator a better treatment option for pneumonia.
Oxygen is quintessential for humans and when our breathing produces less oxygen for our red blood cells problems can arise. Bacterial pneumonia can be life-threatening, so treating it properly is imperative. Work with your doctor to prescribe the proper oxygen therapy you need to match your lifestyle and overcome pneumonia or any other respiratory illness. You might feel uncomfortable using the oxygen therapy initially but with the correct use and care you will get through the discomfort soon. HPFY is always here to guide and help you through your health issues.
Pneumonia is a serious ailment and may result in grave consequences if not treated at the earliest. Therapy with repeated HBO2 sessions prevents admission to the intensive care unit with mechanical ventilation in elderly patients showing signs and symptoms of respiratory problems. Experts opine that pneumonia patients can benefit from hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT). It is considered the most powerful oxygenation modality in the body at present. Subsequently, HBOT dramatically increases dissolved O2 levels in the blood and promotes blood transport and tissue delivery.
Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy has specific immuno-modulatory properties (humoral and cellular), making it possible to decrease the gravity of the inflammatory response and stimulate antioxidant defenses by repeating sessions. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy also has virucidal (capacity to destroy a virus) capacity and is generally safe with very few adverse events.
Yes, oxygen therapy is safe for pneumonia as long as you are-
No, it is strictly prohibited and you must avoid it. Always keep your oxygen tank or cylinder away from an open flame or any heat source as oxygen supports combustion and it might cause fire accidents.
Your health professional will prescribe you how much oxygen you need. You should carry a pulse oximeter to measure your oxygen saturation it will help you to keep your oxygen level in check that it doesn't drop to a dangerously low level.
It depends on the type and size of your device. Follow the usage and storage instructions on the manual for the same or contact your dealer for clarification.
Severe pneumonia is dangerous for people above a certain age limit as it causes breathing issues and chest pain. Oxygen therapy for the elderly and children who are suffering from pneumonia must be strict as per the medical professional’s instructions.
Health Products For You offers a wide range of oxygen therapy products and other respiratory treatment aids at the best prices available online. HPFY believes in serving its customers top-notch quality products within the quickest time span. Our customer-centric approach has made us popular and reliable amongst our clientele. Shop with us and get exciting discounts on every purchase you make.
Disclaimer: All content found on our website, including images, videos, infographics and text were created solely for informational purposes. Our content should never be used for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment of any medical conditions. Content shared on our websites is not meant to be used as a substitute for advice from a certified medical professional. Reliance on the information provided on our website as a basis for patient treatment is solely at your own risk. We urge all our customers to always consult a physician or a certified medical professional before trying or using a new medical product.
Kevin Cleary has been a Health Products For You contributor for many years and has a degree in marketing. His health and wellness journey has a very personal meaning and has guided him in his content writing for HPFY.
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