Oxygen therapy functions as a helping hand for individuals with respiratory problems or other medical issues that prevent the body from obtaining sufficient oxygen. It’s a prescribed medication that gives the lungs that extra dose of oxygen it needs.
Oxygen therapy treats medical conditions such as:
- Asthma
- Chronic bronchitis
- Congestive heart failure
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Emphysema
- Cystic fibrosis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Lung cancer
- Pneumonia
In some cases, doctors will prescribe oxygen if a person has the following symptoms: coughing, chronic fatigue, breathlessness, or memory problems.
Table of Contents
- Types of Oxygen Therapy Systems
- Side Effects of Home Oxygen Therapy
- Ear Pain from Oxygen Tubing
- How to Reduce Ear Pain from Oxygen Use
- Dry Nose and Nosebleeds from Oxygen Therapy
- How to Soothe a Dry Nose When Using Oxygen
- Skin Irritation from Oxygen Therapy
- How to Reduce Skin Irritation from Oxygen Therapy
- Water Buildup in Oxygen Tubing
- How to Prevent Water Buildup in Oxygen Tubing
Types of Oxygen Therapy Systems
Oxygen users can choose from a few different types of delivery systems:
This is your home oxygen generator. It runs on electricity and generates pure oxygen by filtering out nitrogen from the surrounding air. While many weigh around 50 lbs, most come with wheels for easier transport.
Learn more about home use oxygen concentrators here.
Ideal for oxygen users on-the-go, these are much lighter than their stationary counterparts, weighing between 3 and just under 20 lbs. They offer mobility and greater independence.
Read about key features of portable oxygen concentrators and compare top-rated portable oxygen machines.
- Liquid Oxygen:
Another portable solution for active oxygen users, liquid oxygen can be easily carried in small tanks. This form of oxygen is denser and takes up less space than oxygen gas, making it more efficient for storage and transport.
- Compressed Oxygen Gas Tanks:
Also called oxygen cylinders, these tanks contain oxygen under high pressure. Although oxygen tanks come in various sizes—with smaller tanks being portable, either wheeled or carried—they require more maintenance than portable oxygen concentrators.
Major disadvantages of cylinders include the need for refilling when empty and the necessity of proper storage.
Now that we’ve covered the types of home oxygen delivery systems, let’s explore the side effects of oxygen therapy and what you can do to enhance your comfort.
Side Effects of Home Oxygen Therapy
Common side effects of oxygen therapy at home include:
- Pain around the ears
- Dry nose
- Nosebleeds
- Irritated skin around the nose
- Rainout/condensation in tubing
Read on to learn what causes these discomforts and how you can manage oxygen therapy side effects.
Ear Pain from Oxygen Tubing
Causes of Ear Pain
Anyone who uses oxygen for long periods of time knows how uncomfortable the oxygen tubing can be, especially around the ears. The constant pressure from the tubing can lead to localized pain, irritation, and even skin breakdown.
How to Reduce Ear Pain from Oxygen Use
Consider using padding between your ears and the oxygen tubing. This can help reduce the pressure from the tubing.
You can make your own padding or buy nasal cannula ear cushions that are specifically designed to alleviate ear pain related to home oxygen therapy.
Dry Nose and Nosebleeds from Oxygen Therapy
Causes of Dry Nose and Nosebleeds
The consistent supply of oxygen can dry out the inside of the nose, causing irritation and potentially even nosebleeds.
Dry nose and nosebleeds from oxygen therapy are due to:
- Reduced Humidity: Pure oxygen has less humidity than room air. In fact, medical-grade oxygen doesn’t have any moisture.
- Extended Use: Continuously breathing in dry oxygen depletes the moisture in your nasal passages, irritating the sensitive skin there to the point where even a slight brush with the tips of the cannula causes skin breakage.
Furthermore, if you’re on oxygen, it’s normal to notice blood in your mucus after blowing your nose.
This is because the skin in dry nasal passages is more fragile, and the act of blowing your nose can rupture tiny blood vessels, causing blood to mix with your mucus.
How to Soothe a Dry Nose When Using Oxygen
- Apply a water-based moisturizer or balm
Applying a moisturizing balm is a proven method to stop nosebleeds and prevent dry nose. There are special balms available on the market to soothe dry nose caused by oxygen therapy.
Some examples are NozAid Nasal Moisturizer and Aquegel, a water-based moisturizer.
Make sure to avoid using oil-based moisturizers (e.g., products with soft paraffin, petroleum jelly, and emulsifying ointment), which are flammable.
These products increase the risk of fire when used in the presence of oxygen, which supports combustion.
- Use sesame oil
Sesame seed oil is another option for you to address oxygen home therapy nosebleeds. Sesame seed oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties and can protect your nose from germs.
When applying sesame oil, use a clean finger or a cotton swab to put a thin layer inside your nostrils.
- Use a humidifier bottle for oxygen concentrators
A humidifier bottle is another helpful solution to soothe and prevent dry nose and throat caused by home oxygen therapy. You can attach a humidifier bottle to your oxygen concentrator to add moisture to the dry oxygen.
Oxygen picks up moisture as it flows from the concentrator into the water inside the humidifier bottle. This reduces the drying effect it can have on your nose and throat.
- Use a room humidifier
If you still experience dryness in your mouth and throat despite using a humidifier bottle, consider adding a room humidifier. This can be especially helpful during sleep when we tend to breathe through our mouths more.
Remember to use distilled water in your humidifier for optimal results.
- Use a nasal saline spray
Nasal saline sprays moisturize your nasal passages and provide relief from dryness.
- Drink lots of water
Staying hydrated helps maintain moisture levels in your body, which in turn can prevent your nasal passages from drying out.
- Avoid Irritants
Steer clear of irritants like smoke, strong fragrances, and harsh chemicals. These substances can aggravate your nasal passages, intensifying the dryness.
Skin Irritation from Oxygen Therapy
Causes of Skin Irritation
Alongside nasal dryness, skin irritation is another common side effect of oxygen therapy. The primary cause is persistent contact between the nasal cannula/tubing and the skin, although using dirty oxygen equipment can also cause skin breakouts and even respiratory infections.
Remember to clean your oxygen cannula and mask weekly and replace them every 2 to 3 months for optimal hygiene.
Learn how to keep your oxygen machine and supplies clean and safe to use here.
How to Reduce Skin Irritation from Oxygen Therapy
- Use protective foam dressings
These dressings serve as a buffer between the tubing and your skin, preventing further irritation and discomfort.
- Apply topical ointments and lotion
Topical ointments create a barrier between the irritating tubing and your skin while promoting skin healing.
Water Buildup in Oxygen Tubing
Causes of Water Buildup in Oxygen Tubing
There’s nothing more aggravating than water buildup in your oxygen tubing. In the context of oxygen therapy, this only happens if you use a humidifier bottle with your oxygen source.
All sources of medical oxygen, whether it is oxygen cylinders, oxygen machines or liquid oxygen, do not contain any moisture.
How to Prevent Water Buildup in Oxygen Tubing
- Use an inline water trap
An inline water trap sits between the bubble humidifier bottle and nasal cannula or oxygen mask. It prevents condensation buildup in the tubing by capturing any moisture in the system.
- Place the oxygen concentrator in a shaded, well-ventilated area
Where you position the oxygen concentrator can make a significant difference. Choosing a cool, shaded, and well-ventilated spot prevents the machine from heating up and generating oxygen that is warmer than the surrounding air. This helps minimize the temperature difference that leads to condensation.
- Remove the humidifier bottle
Although not ideal, removing the source of moisture is the surest way to prevent rainout.
- Move tubing off cold floors
If the humidified oxygen inside the tubing comes into contact with cold floors, it can condense, leading to rainout. This issue is more prevalent during winter but can also be a problem during hotter months if your home has air conditioning vents on the floor.
Final Thoughts
Oxygen use at home is a prescribed treatment for any respiratory-related condition. Unfortunately, oxygen therapy can lead to uncomfortable side effects such as ear pain, dry nose, nosebleeds, skin irritation, and water buildup.
The good news is that there are easy remedies for most of these challenges. You can use nasal cannula ear cushions to protect the skin around your ears. If you have irritated skin, water-based moisturizers can help soothe it.
Additionally, adding an inline water trap can collect excess moisture in the tubing. All of these are quick and easy solutions to enhance your comfort while on oxygen.
If you have any questions about oxygen therapy or oxygen equipment, feel free to connect with us. Our team of respiratory therapists and sleep technologists are happy to help!
Or, find your answer online by browsing our collection of oxygen articles.