Oxygen therapy

Many people with COPD benefit from oxygen therapy. Oxygen therapy is necessary when there is not enough oxygen in the blood. This might be appropriate for you if you:

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• Often feel short of breath
• Feel irritable or cranky
• Have headaches in the morning
• Have swollen ankles
• Have limited tolerance for exercise

Your doctor can measure blood oxygen levels with a small device that clips on the fingertip (pulse oximeter) or by drawing and analyzing blood from one of your arteries (a test known as arterial blood gases).

If blood levels are low, your doctor will prescribe compressed or liquid oxygen. Some people need it only when they sleep, some people need it when they exercise, and some people need it 24 hours a day.

This section has more on:

• Types of oxygen systems
• Common concerns about oxygen therapy