What material should I read regarding supplemental oxygen?
I have been on oxygen for 4 years. It seems that I still do not know everything about its use. Any available material that you might suggest I read? Thank you.
Hi Frank2 - excellent question - you've certainly come to the right place.
Here on COPD.net, we have a wealth of published material which focuses on the use of supplemental oxygen and COPD.
For your convenience, here are links to several articles for you to begin with. Should you want additional material, please let me or any other moderator / team member know!
We can start here, with the basics: https://copd.net/living/101-the-who-what-when-where-why-how-of-supplemental-oxygen-therapy/.
And next, this article, which focuses on safety 'do's and don't's: https://copd.net/living/dos-donts-supplemental-oxygen/.
And finally, this article, which explains oxygen levels and supplemental oxygen: https://copd.net/living/oxygen-levels-supplemental/.
I do hope you find them to be helpful in a practical way. As said, we have quite a bit more should you be interested.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)Hello Leon: Thank you for the links. I believe I am looking for more. Something that might explain different O2 levels under exertion and reasons for low 02 levels even while under no exertion. Seems odd, but I am really trying to understand myself.
Thanks again
Hi again, Frank2, and thanks for your response and clarification.
Please, rest assured, your concerns are NOT odd - not at all! It's commendable that you are trying to learn as much as you can about this condition and how it affects you in particular. Keep in mind, this is not a 'one size fits all' disease - COPD affects everyone differently. It can even vary in how it affects you from day-to-day. For example, one day, you might become short-winded doing an activity, while the next day, it you might not become as short of breath. This can be the very nature of the disease.
Based on your expressed concern about various oxygen (saturation) levels during different types of exertion as well as remaining at rest, I thought this article might explain just how this can happen: https://copd.net/clinical/breathlessness-vs-oxygen-saturation/. I do hope this material sheds some light on this aspect of the condition.
Warmly,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
