Many people with pulmonary hypertension (PH) use oxygen therapy, also called supplemental oxygen, as part of their treatment plan. This treatment may help you reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life while living with PH.

Doing a bit of research before you buy oxygen therapy products may help you better understand what will work best for you.

What Is Oxygen Therapy?

During home oxygen therapy, you receive extra oxygen from a tank or oxygen concentrator — a machine that collects air from your surroundings and filters out extra gasses, resulting in air containing high oxygen levels. To receive the oxygen, you use a face mask or a small tube called a nasal cannula that sits underneath your nostrils.

Oxygen, which normally travels in your bloodstream, is important for keeping all of your tissues alive and healthy. Oxygen therapy can increase oxygen levels throughout your body, which may be lower in people with PH. Oxygen is also a vasodilator — that is, it helps widen the blood vessels in your lungs, which become too narrow if you have group 1 PH or pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). When you don’t have enough oxygen, you may experience PH symptoms like fatigue or shortness of breath.

“I accidentally went without oxygen for 30 minutes while at a friend’s house,” wrote a member of myPHteam. “I got severe headaches and felt very weak until I managed to get on oxygen.”

Overall, oxygen therapy can help reduce PH symptoms and boost your quality of life. It may help you move around better, breathe easier, and reduce issues such as difficulties focusing.

Features To Look For When Buying Oxygen Therapy Products

There are several types of products that can help you properly use oxygen therapy. It may feel a bit overwhelming if you’re looking at different oxygen therapy options — how do you know which products are best?

There are a few key factors that you may want to consider to help make sure the products you buy are a good fit for your needs.

1. Comfort

Most people who use long-term oxygen therapy use a nasal cannula rather than a face mask. You can talk or eat while wearing a nasal cannula.

A face mask, on the other hand, may be less comfortable. The mask and its straps have the potential to irritate your skin. You will also have to remove it during mealtimes. However, you may need a mask if you require higher volumes of oxygen.

2. At-Home Usability

Some oxygen therapy delivery systems are difficult to move around. These products are best used at home.

Oxygen tanks or oxygen cylinders are large containers full of gas or liquid oxygen. A company will regularly come and refill or replace your empty tanks so you have a continuous supply of oxygen available.

Oxygen concentrators are a more popular choice than oxygen tanks. These machines come in multiple sizes. Some are large and weigh quite a bit, making them best for home use.

No matter which type of delivery system you choose, you’ll need to stay connected to the device through tubing. Around your house, it’s common to use 50-foot tubing to allow you to move further away from the device. You can also install oxygen-filled tubing around your floor and connect to it as you move between different rooms.

3. Portability

Some products are easier to take with you when you’re out and about. One myPHteam member said that in addition to a bigger portable concentrator at home, “I have a portable from Inogen which is great. I feel that at least I can get out.”

Gas oxygen tanks can be heavy and hard to carry. Liquid oxygen tanks are smaller and lighter, but they are typically expensive and aren’t available in all areas. A trans-fill unit is a newer option that lets you fill your own light tanks using an oxygen concentrator. People with PH can often move around more easily using trans-fill units.

Small oxygen concentrators can also come with you when you’re on the go, either worn on your back or wheeled. They typically can’t deliver as much oxygen as larger systems can. One type is portable oxygen equipment. These systems are easy to move but aren’t designed to be carried around, and they weigh more than 10 pounds. There’s also ambulatory oxygen equipment. These systems, which weigh less than 10 pounds, are intended to be carried around by the user.

Smaller oxygen concentrators, unlike other oxygen delivery systems, can also be taken on airplanes. This makes them a great option for traveling.

“I have a portable oxygen concentrator I plug into my car,” said one member. “It works fine for driving if I need it.”

Another member reported bringing oxygen to work for occasional moments when their oxygen levels dropped too low. “I have been doing really well off oxygen at work,” they wrote. “However, I still bring my oxygen with me for the times I need it.”

4. Adequate Oxygen Output

People with PH need different amounts of oxygen. Some may need only a little extra to help relieve symptoms, while others may require much higher levels around the clock. Knowing which category you fall into may help you and your doctor determine which type of products are best for you. If your doctor says you require a lot of additional oxygen, you may need to use liquid oxygen along with a face mask or high-flow nasal cannula.

It may also help to use a reservoir cannula. These devices save and store some of the oxygen that you breathe out, allowing you to breathe it back in on your next inhale. They further boost oxygen levels and improve endurance for those with severe lung disease.

There are two main reservoir options. The mustache-style nasal cannula sits directly under your nose, while the pendant nasal cannula rests against your chest. The mustache cannula may be more comfortable, but it’s also more noticeable.

5. Affordability

It’s a good idea to consider treatment costs when weighing your options. If you have insurance, check with your insurance company to see if they cover the type of oxygen therapy you are interested in using.

Oxygen therapy is generally covered by Medicare. This program will usually help pay for oxygen tanks, tubing, mouthpieces, and related products if your doctor says this treatment is necessary. If you don’t own the needed oxygen equipment, Medicare will help you rent it. They will also cover maintenance and repair costs.

Medicaid coverage varies from state to state, so you will need to contact your Medicaid provider for more information about whether oxygen therapy is covered under this program. In many cases, Medicaid will cover the costs of equipment like oxygen concentrators and oxygen monitors.

If you need additional help paying for oxygen therapy or other PH treatments, you may want to look into programs that provide financial assistance. These include nonprofits, state programs, and federal solutions. Your health care team may also know of organizations that may help you access treatment at a more affordable price.

Consult With Your Doctor

For further assistance, ask your health care team for advice. They will have a good idea about how different products work and can tell you which type of system may work best for you. They may also be able to provide recommendations based on the experience of other people using oxygen therapy while living with PH.

Once you choose an oxygen therapy system, your health care provider can help you set up your devices and teach you how to use them. Always reach out to your doctor if you have questions or aren’t sure how to use a particular product.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myPHteam, the social network for people with pulmonary hypertension and their loved ones, more than 50,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with pulmonary hypertension.

Have you tried any oxygen therapy products for your PH? What did you think? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.