Respiratory Therapy

Recently Answered

• QHow can hyperbaric oxygen therapy help heal wounds in people with diabetes?

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  A Baptist Health South Florida answered

  In people with diabetes, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used for treating extremely chronic wounds that are not responding to conventional treatment. Wound care is an important concern for many people who have diabetes. Wounds can be slow to heal for those with diabetes and that slow-healing condition can leave people vulnerable to other complications.
  
  During hyperbaric therapy people breathe 100% oxygen in a high-pressure environment. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides one or more of the following benefits:

  • Increased oxygen to the injured tissue
  • Better formation of blood vessels
  • Advanced wound healing
  • Improved infection control
  • Preservation of damaged tissue
  • Elimination of toxic substances
  • Reduced effects of toxic substances
  • Reduction or elimination of tissue obstruction caused by gas bubbles
• QHow does hyperbaric oxygen therapy help heal wounds?

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  A Dr. George E. Karras, MD , Internal Medicine, answered on behalf of Mercy Medical Center

  Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps heal wounds by allowing adequate levels of oxygen to be delivered to the wound.  Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an excellent treatment for hypoxic wounds, or wounds that do not heal due to inadequate oxygenation of the wounds.
  
  During this treatment, people lie in a clear, pressurized chamber and breathe 100% oxygen. Breathing 100% oxygen at a higher pressure within the hyperbaric chamber delivers a higher dose of oxygen to the wound, encouraging the body to fight infection while promoting healing of the wound.
  
  Trinity Health recognizes that people seek medical information on a variety of topics for a variety of reasons. Trinity Health does not condone or support all practices covered in this site. As a Catholic health care organization, Trinity Health acts in accordance with the Catholic tradition.
  
  Please note, the information contained on this website is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider if you have questions regarding your medical condition or before starting any new treatment. In the event of a medical emergency always call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency care facility.
• QHow long do hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments last?

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  A Dr. Jennifer L. Ross, DO , Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine, answered on behalf of Lakeview Hospital

  Hyperbaric oxygen therapy usually involves treatment every day, Monday through Friday, for two hours per session. You may receive 30 minutes of oxygen and a five-minute break three times.
   
• QHow can I prepare for hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

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  A Dr. Salil Gulati, MD , Plastic Surgery, answered on behalf of The Medical Center of Plano

  If you are getting hyperbaric oxygen therapy you should tell your medical provider about any heart or lung problems that you have. You should also tell your healthcare provider if you have a pacemaker or pump in your body, and any medications that you take. Some of these things may be contraindicated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
• QWill Medicare pay for the cost of electricity my oxygen equipment uses?

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  A COPD Foundation answered

  Medicare will not pay for any utility bills as a result of the use of your oxygen equipment if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and require supplemental oxygen. In some cases, the direct costs of operating your oxygen equipment are deductible as a medical expense. Some utilities have programs to help lessen this cost. Check with your electricity provider. The COPD Foundation Disaster Preparedness Plan also includes these forms. 
• QWhy doesn't supplemental oxygen prevent me from getting short of breath?

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  A COPD Foundation answered

  When you have chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD), low oxygen levels are actually caused by the failure of blood vessels in your lungs to connect with the air sacs that contain oxygen. Your lungs may still be able to support that connection, but you may be short of breath due to other factors, such as hyperinflation, retained carbon dioxide and a flattened diaphragm, increasing your work of breathing. 
• QIs my oxygen supplier required to provide an oxygen concentrator if I fly?

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  A COPD Foundation answered

  No. If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and require oxygen therapy, your oxygen supplier is not required to furnish you with an airline-approved portable oxygen concentrator. In addition, Medicare will not pay for any oxygen related to air travel. Your oxygen supplier is, however, required to provide you with oxygen at your destination. You might be able to rent a portable oxygen concentrator from your oxygen supplier to use during air travel. Airline-approved rentals are also available through online companies where they work with most airlines and provide the documentation required for your travel. 
• QHow do I determine the operating costs of my oxygen equipment?

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  A COPD Foundation answered

  If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and require supplemental oxygen, here is how to determine the cost of your oxygen equipment step-by-step: 

  1. The label on your concentrator shows the volts and amps used. Multiply the volts by the amps. For instance: 115 volts x 6 amps = 690 watts
  2. Multiply the watts by .001 to obtain kilowatt hours. 690 x .001 = .69 KWH
  3. Multiply KWH by the number of hours per year that you use your concentrator. For instance, if you use it 24 hours a day, that equals 8,760 hours per year. .69 KWH x 8,760 = 6,044
  4. Find the cost of electricity per kilowatt from your power company. For example, 12 cents. 6,044 x .12 = $725.28 cost per year
• QDo I have a say on what brand of equipment I receive for oxygen therapy?

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  A COPD Foundation answered

  Some brands of concentrators run quieter, produce less heat or use less electricity than others. This is important to know if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and your doctor has prescribed oxygen therapy. Oxygen concentrators can be very expensive to run and the cost of electricity is not covered under Medicare reimbursement. Your oxygen supplier may have a purchase agreement with a certain company in order to get lower pricing. That does not mean you have to accept that particular equipment. This is when it pays to do your homework. Ask other oxygen users about their equipment. Ask about reliability, noise level, cost of running it and if it produces a lot of heat. However, they are also not obligated to go out and buy a brand of equipment that you request. Your choice is still dependent on the oxygen suppliers current inventory.  
• QHow do I perform oxygen therapy?

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  A Natural Medicines answered

  Oxygen is almost always delivered in the form of a continually flowing gas. The duration of oxygen therapy varies according to the medical condition of the patient. For instance, patients with carbon dioxide poisoning or decompression sickness may only receive oxygen for a short period of time, whereas individuals with certain kinds of diabetic wounds or a chronic eye condition may receive oxygen on a regular basis. Some individuals, such as those with the lung condition chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), may require oxygen therapy for the rest of their lives.

  A variety of different machines and devices are used to administer oxygen therapy, including tubes that go into the nose, a face mask, an anesthetic machine, and specialized masks such as flight masks. Hyperbaric pressure therapy is usually given in a small chamber. Bag-valve-masks require that the individual squeeze the device to deliver the oxygen.

  Oxygen is contained and transported in a number of ways. Specialized types of cylinders may be less stable, but they hold more oxygen because oxygen is compacted until it is ready to be used. In general, oxygen cylinders need to be refilled. Oxygen concentrators are larger than oxygen cylinders, remove oxygen from the surrounding air to purify it, and do not need to be refilled.

  Some individuals may need to enter a special room or chamber to inhale oxygen. In these cases, the oxygen is not stored in the room, but pumped in. This is usually the case on airplanes and in hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Oxygen therapy may also be given in an individual's room in their home.

  You should read product labels, and discuss all therapies with a qualified healthcare provider. Natural Standard information does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

  
  
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