Oxygen Therapy Accessories

Oxygen Accessories-Pulse Oximeter

Our company stock a range of oxygen accessories for your convenience.

We cannot stress the importance of oxygen patients owning a Pulse Oximeter.
Ideally patients who are on oxygen therapy should have a saturation level of approximately 90%.

Too high levels of oxygen may cause for CO2 retention.
Here is an extract from a Lung Foundation Organisation:
The presence of a high CO2 level in the blood is known as hypercapnia and can cause headaches, lethargy, drowsiness, confusion and, if severe, can lead to coma and death. People with hypercapnia may be flushed and warm to touch, and they may also show a classic “flapping tremor” of the hands. When asked to hold their arms out in front and bend their wrists back, they are unable to maintain the position of the hands, and as a result, the hands will “flap”

How does oxygen cause hypercapnia?
Too much supplemental oxygen can cause or worsen hypercapnia by a number of different mechanisms including:
1. Dramatically changing the relationship between air exchange within the lungs and blood flow within the lungs, resulting in reduced removal of CO2.

2. Reducing the “drive to breathe”. People with healthy lungs rely on high CO2 levels to stimulate the brain to breathe. People with COPD and high CO2 levels may become “less sensitive” to a high CO2 level. The person then relies more on low oxygen levels to stimulate their breathing. Giving too much oxygen removes this stimulus to breathe, and thus reduces the removal of CO2 from the lungs.

3. Both oxygen and CO2 bind to the haemoglobin in the red blood cells. Giving too much oxygen can push the CO2 from the haemoglobin into the bloodstream, causing CO2 levels to rise in the blood.
Uncontrolled oxygen therapy, or receiving too much oxygen, can make people who usually have higher CO2 levels retain more until it reaches dangerous levels.

Some people with low oxygen levels are prescribed supplemental oxygen at home as a long-term treatment for their lung condition. In this instance, the treating physician usually determines the oxygen flow within an acceptable range. It is important that oxygen therapy is used to maintain blood levels within this acceptable range and not in an effort to reduce perceived breathlessness. Breathlessness in COPD is rarely due to low oxygen levels alone. If someone experiences worsening breathlessness they need to see their doctor and address the possible causes. Patients should not increase the oxygen flow simply to treat the symptom of breathlessness.

Other Accessories

Every patient on oxygen therapy must have a pulse oximeter.
Click here to learn more about the pulse oximeter and how to avoid CO2 rentention.

Patients who on the OxyGen database will qualify for greatly reduced prices on the following oxygen accessories :

• Cannulas
• Extended Tubing
• Connectors
• Humidifier Bottles
• Neulisers
• Suction Devices