What Every Caregiver Should Know About Managing Chronic Lung Conditions at Home
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Living with a chronic lung condition is one of the most daunting tasks that you can undertake as a caregiver.
Millions of individuals suffer from COPD, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It’s chronic, so it not only impacts your patient’s day-to-day lives. It impacts yours as well.
But did you know the right knowledge and oxygen equipment can create the ideal home environment with comfortable patients and minimal emergency visits?
Let’s take a look…
You’ll learn:
- About Chronic Lung Disease At Home
- Why You Need a Medical Oxygen Cylinder
- How to Create a Safe Oxygen Station At Home
- Daily Management Tips for Oxygen Tanks At Home
- When to Contact Your Physician
About Chronic Lung Disease At Home
As you may already know, chronic lung conditions severely impact someone’s ability to breathe properly. Without proper care and equipment, many life-like activities become strenuous or unbearable to patients.
The most common chronic lung diseases are COPD, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.
However…
Did you know COPD was listed as the 5th leading cause of death in the United States as of 2023? According to the CDC, over 141,006 deaths were directly caused by COPD. That is simply astonishing.
And it doesn’t stop there. Over 1.5 Million Americans are prescribed long-term oxygen therapy to help treat their chronic lung diseases. That means oxygen management in the household is a significant part of someone’s daily routine.
While most lung conditions can’t be cured, they can be managed with routine oxygen checks and safe equipment at home.
Let’s discuss how.
Why You Need a Medical Oxygen Cylinder
Medical Oxygen cylinders are exactly what they sound like; containers filled with oxygen that can be used at home for your patient’s comfort and safety.
When patients aren’t able to intake enough oxygen their blood oxygen levels begin to fall. Once this happens they can experience symptoms such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Lack of energy
- Dizziness
- Confusion
If your patient needs a steady supply of supplemental oxygen, either due to a chronic lung disease or illness, having a properly sized oxygen cylinder can mean the difference between comfort and extreme distress.
So what size oxygen cylinder should you buy?
There are many sizes when it comes to oxygen cylinders. However, for caregivers looking for a reliable and portable option for home use, oxygen tanks in C size seem to be one of the best for daily activity.
Size does matter when it comes to oxygen cylinders as it determines:
- How long your oxygen will last
- How portable the tank is
- Whether or not it’s compatible with the flow rate prescribed by your physician.
Save yourself the headache and research ahead of time which cylinder will best suit your patients needs.
How to Create a Safe Oxygen Station At Home
As with any medical equipment setup in the home, oxygen machines should be used with caution. Educating yourself on the proper safety steps to take when using oxygen tanks is critical to you and your patients safety.
Why is oxygen station safety so important?
As mentioned above, oxygen is known as a “combustible gas”. This means that when it comes into contact with an open flame, disaster can happen in a matter of seconds.
As a caregiver, you’ll want to take these safety tips to heart:
- ALWAYS keep oxygen equipment at least 3 metres away from flames. This includes candles, fireplaces, and gas stoves.
- NO SMOKING should be permitted within your facility if supplemental oxygen is in use. This is one of the leading causes for oxygen-related house fires.
- Store your oxygen tanks upright and secured to a surface. You don’t want them toppling over and causing damage to the valve.
- Keep a working fire extinguisher close by. Ensure all household members know where it is located at all times.
- Routinely check all tubing and connections. Cracks or worn tubing is not only bad for your oxygen supply but air leakage.
These are simple steps you can take to ensure your home oxygen station is up-to par with safety standards.
Daily Management Tips for Oxygen Tanks At Home
With your oxygen station finally up and running, it’s time to walk through daily management. These aren’t chores that you have to do daily. Think of these as habits that you should start today and continue for the rest of your patient’s life.
Follow these daily tips:
Check your patient’s oxygen levels frequently with a pulse oximeter. A pulse oximeter is an inexpensive device that attaches to the finger and provides you with a reading of the patient’s oxygen levels. Most doctors will recommend you stay at 88-90% or higher.
Keep a log of oxygen readings, flow rates, and any symptoms your patient may be feeling. Keeping notes will allow you to have a better conversation with your doctors about what’s going on when you’re in the office.
As mentioned previously, oxygen can dry out your patient’s nasal cavity and throat. Make sure they are always hydrated. If needed, you can purchase a small humidifier that hooks onto your oxygen tank.
Maintenance is key.
You should clean your oxygen equipment daily. Replace nasal cannulas every two months and tubing once a month. Make sure to routinely check your oxygen cylinder for any damages or leaks.
At first, these tasks may seem like a lot to remember. However, once you build these check-ups into your daily routine they will only take you a few minutes.
When to Contact Your Physician
As every caregiving situation is different, you may run into circumstances where you need to contact your physician immediately.
Here are a few symptoms to look out for:
- Oxygen levels drop below 88%
- Patient experiences sudden shortness of breath
- Lips/Fingernails begin to turn blue/grey
- Patient experiences extreme confusion, sleepiness, or problems waking up
- Patient experiences chest pain or rapid heartbeat
If your patient experiences any of the above symptoms, call your doctor immediately.
It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Wrapping Things Up
Knowing how to properly care for someone with a chronic lung disease at home is no easy task. However, with the right education and equipment you can provide your patient with the care they need while reducing unnecessary hospital visits.
Here’s what you need to remember:
- Learn everything you can about your patient’s lung condition.
- Purchase the correct size oxygen cylinder for home use.
- Create a safe space for your oxygen station at home.
- Develop a routine that includes monitoring, daily hydration, and equipment checkups.
- Educate yourself on when to contact your doctor and post their emergency number around the house.
Following these steps will allow you to better care for your patients while keeping them out of the emergency room.
Don’t wait until an emergency happens to become educated.