How To Treat Pulmonary Fibrosis With Supplemental Oxygen
Your lungs have a very important job. They must take in oxygen from the air and send it to your bloodstream. A condition like pulmonary fibrosis makes it hard for the lungs to do their job. This disease scars your lungs, which makes it hard to breathe.
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) also makes it difficult for your body to get enough oxygen. This results in your blood oxygen levels falling too low. Read on to find out how to treat pulmonary fibrosis with supplemental oxygen.
Start An Oxygen Therapy Program
Oxygen therapy helps people with chronic lung diseases to enjoy life to the fullest. Your doctor will give you a portable oxygen unit. The oxygen is administered through a tube. It is deliver to your lungs using three common methods, such as face mask, nasal cannula and transtracheal oxygen therapy.
The Mask Method
You can deliver the oxygen from the portable unit using a face mask. It fits over your nose and mouth using straps that goes behind your head.
The Nasal Cannula Method
A nasal cannula is another way to get oxygen to your lungs. This method uses prongs or small plastic tubes to transport the oxygen through your nostrils.
The Transtracheal Oxygen Therapy
The transtracheal oxygen therapy is surgical method and the least common. It is done to insert a tube into your windpipe. The tube is inserted from the front of your neck.
How Does It Improve Your Quality Of Life?
Pulmonary fibrosis causes you to get short of breath when doing an activity or when at rest. Oxygen therapy decreases this behavior. You should be able to participate in a physician recommended pulmonary rehabilitation program without any limitations. Participants in this program must do exercises and must perform the exercises without getting short of breath.
Oxygen therapy can also be used while waiting to get a lung transplant. Pulmonary fibrosis makes it hard to participate in daily activities. The oxygen allows you to keep your normal routine and not downgrade your quality of life.
It is not known what causes PF and there is no cure. Many patients only live three to five years after diagnosis. Patient who have trouble breathing must get respiratory care to prevent respiratory failure. If you have pulmonary fibrosis, then it is time to schedule an appointment with a respiratory therapist.
This condition is progressive. You cannot cure it, but you can treat the symptoms.