Oxygen therapy can make it easier for you to breathe and may help you live longer. When your body has more oxygen, your body systems can work better. You may be able to think more clearly, be more active, and have a better quality of life.

Oxygen may be given in a hospital if you have a rapid, sometimes sudden, increased shortness of breath (COPD exacerbation). It can also be used at home if the oxygen level in your blood is too low for long periods.

Your need for oxygen depends on your health and the results of oximetry or an arterial blood gas test.

You may need oxygen in certain situations, such as:

Long-term therapy.

Long-term oxygen therapy is used for COPD if you have very low levels of oxygen in your blood (hypoxemia). It can help you breathe better and live longer. Long-term oxygen therapy should be used for at least 15 hours a day with as few interruptions as possible.

During exercise.

For some people with COPD, blood oxygen levels drop only when they exercise or are very active. Using oxygen during exercise may help reduce shortness of breath for some people. But there are no studies that show any long-term benefits from using oxygen during exercise.

During sleep.

During sleep, breathing naturally slows down because the body doesn't need as much oxygen. Sleep-related breathing disorders are quite common in people with COPD. Many of these people will have quite low blood oxygen levels during sleep.

For air travel.

The level of oxygen in airplanes is about the same as the oxygen level at an elevation of 2400 m (8000 ft). This drop in oxygen can really affect people with COPD. If you normally use oxygen or have borderline-low oxygen levels in your blood, you may need oxygen when you fly. Travelling with oxygen usually is possible. But make sure to plan ahead before you travel.

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