It’s good for everyone to take a few deep breaths every now and then. This is very true when you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cystic fibrosis, or if you’re at risk for heart failure. If you have these conditions, your doctor may recommend using a supplemental oxygen device.

These devices can give you more endurance, improve your sleep, and help you lead a more normal, active life.

There are three main options for oxygen therapy:

• Compressed gas is oxygen stored under pressure in a cylinder. You can get large cylinders to keep at home as well as small, portable cylinders.
• Liquid oxygen changes to gas as you breathe it in. The container is portable and takes up less space than a compressed gas cylinder.
• Oxygen concentrators separate oxygen from the air and store it so that you don’t need to buy oxygen. They run on electricity, so you need to have a back-up cylinder in case of a power outage. Both larger home and smaller portable devices are available.

Oxygen therapy needs to be prescribed by a doctor. He or she can determine how much oxygen you need per minute (the flow rate) and when you should use it.

Be Safe with Oxygen
Oxygen won’t explode or burn on its own, but it will feed a fire, so follow these rules if you use it:

• Don’t smoke when using oxygen, and don’t let visitors smoke near oxygen.
• Stay at least 6 feet away from gas flames and lighted candles or fireplaces.
• If you take oxygen into a restaurant, sit in the nonsmoking section.
• Make sure the oxygen container is in a stable area so that it won’t fall.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Quit Smoking for Free! Join our free quit-smoking program to talk with a trained quitting specialist and receive nicotine-replacement therapy. In Ohio, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). In Michigan, call 1-800-884-7118.