Oxygen Concentrator is a must-have home oxygen device for COVID patients needing oxygen therapy. With India battling through the pandemic, relying more and more on oxygen supply, many countries have contributed their share of help through vaccines, oxygen containers, and concentrators. Before you consider Oxygen Concentrator, look at these Advantages and Disadvantages of Oxygen Concentrator.
Oxygen Concentrator is one of the devices used to give life support to patients suffering from several respiratory diseases. They are provided oxygen therapy in cases of obstructed breathing, lung diseases, and general breathing difficulties.
You might need oxygen therapy if you have any of the conditions causing low blood oxygen levels, namely, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Pneumonia, COVID-19, Severe Asthma attack, Late-stage heart failure, Cystic fibrosis, or Sleep Apnea.
You can use an oxygen concentrator at home or carry it in your backpack, which is quite a beneficial alternative to a heavy oxygen cylinder. Oxygen tanks and oxygen concentrators are commonly used for oxygen therapy to enable easier breathing. An oxygen concentrator acts as an air purifier which can be used for individual purposes.
An Oxygen concentrator for COVID Patients provides a safe source of oxygen-enriched air. An oxygen concentrator is also known as oxygen generator. This home oxygen device draws the room air through a series of filters removing dust, bacteria, and other particulates.
An oxygen concentrator is comprised of a machine that forces air into the cylinders containing Sieve and membrane. The system altogether works effectively to absorb Nitrogen and leaves concentrated oxygen in room air. These devices run on a rechargeable battery and are easier to carry, which is one of the greatest benefits of Oxygen Concentrator.
Evidence suggests that use of oxygen concentrator can improve survival rates for respiratory ¬conditions of the patients. Oxygen Concentrators are widely used for lung disease to provide continuous oxygen ¬therapy. Following are some notable advantages of Oxygen Concentrator use.
One of the Oxygen concentrator advantages is they don’t require refilling, unlike cylinders that need a refill when they run out due to a limited air supply. The Oxygen Concentrator Machine runs on electrical power providing unlimited oxygen.
There are many variants of Portable concentrators available in the market weighing up to 4.5 kg and can be used "on the go". These types of oxygen therapy devices come with a battery pack and can last up to 12 hours of continuous use on a single charge. Oxygen Concentrator machines are more convenient than compressed gas cylinders, and they are known to last for up to 1500 hours of a lifetime.
Oxygen concentrator machines are available in various sizes, models, styles, and build. Each type of concentrator is designed to perfectly fit your requirements. You can also opt to install a stationary Oxygen Concentrator machine in your place according to the space provided.
Safety is also one of the comparative advantages of Oxygen Concentrator Machines. Oxygen cylinders are prone to leaks and oxygen wastage. Everyone knows how valuable Oxygen has been during the pandemic surge in India. An oxygen-rich environment also acts as fuel to the fire. On the contrary, there no worries about oxygen wastage or leakage issues with oxygen concentrator machines.
A stationary oxygen concentrator machine has higher oxygen output and low costs. This is an excellent alternative to oxygen cylinders and often comes with more durability and longer life—the best part about the Oxygen Concentrator machine is that you can buy a used one at a surprisingly low cost.
A new oxygen concentrator price varies from USD 595 to USD 2000 depending on batteries and other accessories. On the other hand, used oxygen concentrators are cheaper and range between $595 and $1500 depending on the hours, warranty, and condition.
Apart from the pros of oxygen concentrators, considering their limitations before buying is also important. The disadvantages of oxygen concentrator vary depending on the model, type, or variant.
Oxygen concentrator use can be difficult when you run out of batteries and there is no power outlet to charge the batteries. Even if it’s a stationary oxygen concentrator machine, you would have to place it somewhere you can access the wall socket. This could be one of the significant disadvantages of oxygen concentrators as they rely on electrical power to function. The situation may be more troubling if there are unscheduled power outages in your house.
There are various components combined in an Oxygen Concentrator that collect, filter, and compress the air. The Emanating noise from a portable oxygen concentrator can be more disturbing for patients. Although this is one of the minor disadvantages of oxygen concentrators; people may find it distracting, and it can cause communication problems to people with hearing problems.
The cylinders, filters, and electric functions require regular servicing. People using stationary oxygen concentrators need to keep changing filters weekly or as prescribed by the manufacturer. Also, the battery-operated Oxygen Concentrator needs battery replacement from time to time. It’s always better to have a spare for the backup.
When it comes to maintenance costs between oxygen cylinder and Concentrator, you’ll find many disadvantageous factors with the latter. An oxygen concentrator has many moving parts and electrical systems/batteries that can be subject to reliability issues. Most parts are expensive and are rarely available in the market.
Conclusion on Advantages and Disadvantages of Oxygen Concentrator:
There are both pros and cons of oxygen concentrators depending on how severely a patient relies on it. Provided, you have the necessary backup, you can find such home oxygen devices significantly useful.
An oxygen concentrator is lightweight and easy to carry around with the patient. You can easily adjust it in your car or even carry it in your backpack. An oxygen concentrator machine can be as light as up to 4.5 kg. Also, you don’t have to refill it, unlike oxygen cylinders.
According to medical research, a typical oxygen concentrator produces concentrated oxygen (90% or higher) after filtration. A typical oxygen concentrator may deliver oxygen flows of 300 Litre per hour (low-flow oxygen concentrators) up to 600 Litre per hour oxygen (high flow oxygen concentrator).
An Oxygen concentrator advantages outweigh its limitations which are minor and manageable. This lightweight home oxygen device is available for stationary and portable uses. Given that a used oxygen concentrator is also cheaper, it can be more advantageous over a cylinder.
Oxygen concentrators are lightweight, cost-efficient, and safer. The oxygen concentrator machines are powered by electricity/batteries and don’t have to be refilled. New miniature concentrators have recently entered the market, making it more convenient for patients to be more mobile than ever.
Because oxygen concentrators actively and continuously filter, purify, and compress air, they tend to be noisy and turbulent during that process. They require charging ? batteries, as well as electric power, are required for oxygen concentrators.
Oxygen concentrators, also called oxygen generators, concentrate room air into high-quality, medical-grade oxygen. With today's cutting-edge technology, oxygen concentrators may be made to be light, noiseless, and energy-efficient.
Without a prescription, using an oxygen concentrator can lead to serious health issues, such as oxygen poisoning from receiving too much oxygen. It can also cause delays in getting treatment for critical illnesses like COVID-19.
An oxygen concentrator takes oxygen from the atmosphere itself, ensuring that the supply is limitless and readily accessible. An oxygen concentrator's significant advantages are Security ? Oxygen tanks can run out of gas. In contrast, an oxygen concentrator will never run out of oxygen as long as there is air available and a source of electricity.
Oxygen therapy is usually safe, although it can cause side effects. Dry or bloody nasal congestion, tiredness, and morning headaches are possible symptoms. Because oxygen can catch fire, you should never smoke or use flammable materials while using it.
