Oxygen Concentrator

An OC (oxygen concentrator) is a medical device that gives you extra oxygen. Your doctor may prescribe one for you if you have a health condition that causes your oxygen level to drop too low.

It can help some people who have trouble breathing due to conditions like:

• Asthma
• Lung cancer
• COPD
• The flu
• COVID-19

You need to get your doctor’s OK before you buy or use an oxygen concentrator. Using one without their guidance or a prescription can be dangerous. If the doctor thinks a concentrator might be right for you, they’ll let you know how much oxygen to take and how long to use the device.

How Does It Work?

An oxygen concentrator isn’t the same thing as an oxygen tank, which delivers liquid or gas oxygen. Instead, the concentrator is a machine that pulls in the air around you and filters out the nitrogen. A thin tube runs from the device to your face, giving you pure oxygen through two open prongs below your nostrils. Some people use a facemask to get a higher concentration and flow of oxygen.