Whether you are the patient or you are working closely with a patient who uses oxygen on a daily basis, you need to learn about oxygen analyzers. By using an oxygen analyzer, you can both be certain that you are staying as healthy as possible. What are Oxygen Analyzers Measuring? The use of an oxygen analyzer is to ensure that the flow from the oxygen tank through the tubing and into the cannula is strong enough for the patient's blood to stay oxygenated. This is very important when a patient's condition is preventing their blood from being fully oxygenated. The doctor who prescribed the oxygen in the first place will give the patient a target range of oxygenation that the patient or caregiver can then monitor with the handheld analyzer. Who Should Have an Oxygen Analyzer? Anyone who uses or works with someone who has an oxygen tank will need oxygen analyzers. This might be someone who has lung problems or someone with a condition that prevents proper oxygenation of their blood (some cancers, for example). If you are switching an oxygen tank, this oxygen analyzer will make sure the oxygen flow is good and that it will provide the most oxygen saturation for the patient who is using the tank. Check with your doctor if you're not sure if you need an analyzer for the oxygen tank or not. How Reliable are Oxygen Analyzers? What's great about oxygen analyzer companies is that they test their products again and again to make sure that they are working properly. What you might want to do is talk to the manufacturer first to see if you can test the analyzer along with the oxygen supplier – since they tend to have better equipment for their own measurements. If your measurements and their measurements are the same, or close, you can be certain to be able to trust the analyzer in the future. However, if the oxygen levels of the patient aren't remaining stable, a trip to the doctor for a check of the oxygen flow might be warranted regardless of what the analyzer says. What Should You Do if You Get a Low Oxygen Analyzer Reading? There will come a time when the oxygen analyzers get lower readings than you might expect. The first thing you will want to do is to check to see if you have hooked up the oxygen tank properly and used a full tank of oxygen in the first place. Check and recheck the connection points to make sure everything is where it is supposed to be. Look at the oxygen tank itself to make sure it's not damaged or that it's not expired. If everything seems to be in place, you will want to try hooking up a fresh tank of oxygen to see if things change. Usually, this is all that is needed, but you will want to alert the oxygen supplier to let them know that you received a faulty tank instead of a full one.

Another benefit to a portable oxygen tank is that it needs only to be refilled, so it tends to be able to be used again and again. So long as it's still free from damage and any other defects, some patients have used their tanks many more times than just once. These tanks are also made out of a recyclable material, so in some cases, they can be recycled and reshaped into 'new' tanks, thus extending their ability to help again and again. All you need to do is to take it to an oxygen supplier that can refill the tank as well as test it for its efficiency and flow. While it's hard to say how long portable oxygen tanks will last, most can last for years before needing to be replaced. If the oxygenation is still strong for the patient, there is no reason to replace the tank. Just continue to use an oxygen analyzer to make sure the flow is good and that the oxygenation for the patient is within the recommended levels. With portable oxygen tanks, you can choose between a number of sizes and shapes – whatever will work best for you or what your loved one needs based on size and capacity for their daily needs. Other related products to consider:

• Oxygen Equipment & Supplies
• Nasal Cannulas
• Oxygen Concentrators & Accessories
• Oxygen Cylinders & Accessories
• Oxygen Regulators
• Oxygen Tank Holders
• Oxygen Tubing

If you're looking at buying or renting a portable oxygen tank, you probably have a lot of questions before you head out to choose the right one for you or for your loved one. Here are some of the most common questions and their answers. There are a number of reasons a patient would choose a portable oxygen tank over another type of oxygen tank or oxygen cylinder. First of all, these tanks tend to be more convenient than the traditional heavy tanks that are used in a hospital setting. Since these tanks can be easily transported in a wheelchair or an oxygen tank cart or backpack, life doesn't have to stop because you or someone you love needs oxygen. These types of tanks can be brought in the car, on a plane, on a train, or in any sort of tight situation. The smaller size also makes it more convenient to carry more than one tank for a longer excursion or just for a backup tank.

While the new portable oxygen tank is made of aluminum and it feels a lot less sturdy than the traditional heavy tanks, it is still just as durable and as safe to carry – if not more so. Because these tanks are more portable, they are easier to handle and they will not get as banged up as the larger tanks tend to get. Aluminum might be lightweight, but it's also very resilient to bumps and drops. You might have a few dents in the canister, but this will not necessarily make the tank unusable.

Because oxygen regulators are such an important part of the oxygen supply process, you will want to make sure that it stays safe and sound. If it's damaged at all, it might not give you an accurate reading when you need it the most. Thankfully, more regulators these days are made out of brass cores, which will last a long time without rusting or wearing down. In addition, many of the writings on the outside are now etched with lasers, making the print legible for years, no matter how banged up the regular might become. Other regulators are made out of anodized aluminum which will not rust or corrode, even if dipped in water. As with any piece of equipment, your oxygen regulator is as reliable as the company who made it. Take some time to check out the reviews of the regulator companies and ask medical professionals if there are any companies they trust more than others. In addition, make sure to have your oxygen tank serviced regularly to ensure that everything's still working. If at any time, you feel like the oxygen flow is not consistent with the reading, take a fresh tank of oxygen and attach it to the regulator. This reading should be perfect, and if not, you need to get a new regulator or get the one you have serviced. Oxygen regulators are used in conjunction with other oxygen supplies:

• Nasal Cannulas
• Oxygen Concentrators & Accessories
• Oxygen Cylinders & Accessories
• Oxygen Regulators
• Oxygen Tubing

If you've never used or needed an oxygen regulator before now, it's a fair assumption that you will have a number of questions that you need answered before you can get started. Here are some of the most common questions about oxygen regulators answered for you. When you need to have a steady supply of oxygen on hand, the oxygen regular is going to help you ensure that the flow from the oxygen tank is steady and that your tank is full enough for you to use over a certain period of time. You can't run out of oxygen for long, so oxygen regulators help by keeping track of your flow so that you know when to change the tank or when you hit a certain level of oxygen. No matter if you use a small or a large tank, you need the regulator attached to the main tank so that you can always know what your tank is doing and what changes you might need to make to the flow or to the tank itself. Because more and more people can use portable oxygen tanks, the oxygen regulator has become easier to read. While you will still want to pore over the manual that comes with it as well as talk to the supplier of your oxygen tank, these regulators are simple to read with a little practice. The numbers are large and easy to make out, while also coming in colors that are simple to differentiate, even if you have poorer vision. Oxygen regulators are used in conjunction with other oxygen supplies:

• Nasal Cannulas
• Oxygen Concentrators & Accessories
• Oxygen Cylinders & Accessories
• Oxygen Regulators
• Oxygen Tubing

Even if the person who is being treated doesn’t seem to be having troubles breathing, finger pulse oximeters are still a good idea. However, in cases of breathing troubles or a fever, the use of these monitors is especially necessary. Patients with lung disorders, cancers, and other chronic illnesses may want to have finger pulse oximeters around to ensure that their blood is getting oxygenated. These devices are also helpful when you are heading out to a secluded area where you might not be able to access medical attention quickly. After purchasing a finger pulse oximeter, it's essential that you read the instructions which come with the device itself. Since each monitor is different, you will want to make sure you are using the oximeter correctly. In addition, you will need to make sure the finger pulse oximeter is securely fastened to the finger and that the finger is resting level with the body. What you may also want to keep in mind is that each person's version of 'normal' is different. So, if your blood oxygen level isn't as high as someone else's, this doesn't mean that something is wrong necessarily. Smokers, for example, tend to have lower oxygen saturation levels and those who are avid exercisers tend to have higher levels. Pulse Oximeters also come in different models and options:

• Datex Ohmeda Pulse Oximeters Finger Pulse Oximeters Hand Held & Portable Pulse Oximeters Nellcor Pulse Oximeters Tabletop Pulse Oximeters

Even if you're not a medical trained staff member, you can use finger pulse oximeters in your daily life to monitor medical conditions or to assess emergency situations. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about pulse oximetry and the correct use of a finger pulse oximeter. Finger pulse oximeters work by measuring the aterial blood's oxygen saturation. What happens each time your heart beats is that you are pushing oxygenated blood out to the perimeters of your body. And when the heart contracts, it's pulling the non-oxygenated blood back to the lungs to get oxygen. This cycle continues again and again. When your heart beats, the pulse oximeter will measure the oxygen that's in this aterial blood as it moves out from the heart. You will receive the measurement in a percentage – anything over 90% is safe, though 94% is considered to be ideal. Beams of light from the oximeter determine the oxygen saturation of the blood as it moves away from the heart, and that's how the oximeter produces that percentage. The good news is that anyone can use a finger pulse oximeter. In fact, this is one of the first things that happen when you are admitted to the hospital for an emergency treatment. To make sure you are getting enough oxygen, you will get a pulse oximeter on your finger. Adults and children alike can use these monitors to check their oxygen levels, though there are different sizes for both ages or there are different finger placement rules for differently sized fingers.

Pulse Oximeters also come in different models and options:

• Datex Ohmeda Pulse Oximeters
• Finger Pulse Oximeters
• Hand Held & Portable Pulse Oximeters
• Nellcor Pulse Oximeters
• Tabletop Pulse Oximeters

When you first look at a spirometer, it can look like a torture device. But with practice, it's a very helpful tool when your lungs need to be monitored. And what's even better is that spirometers are designed to be fool proof – you won't be able to use it incorrectly and get a false reading. The inhalation only valve on spirometers makes sure of this.

You can find a number of different spirometer designs these days – those that are old fashioned and battery free or those that plug directly into your computer to keep track of your progress. Either is fine, though it's best to make sure you are getting accurate results and using the device regularly. For home use, a simple plastic design is fine, but if you need something more specific, an inexpensive Air-Eze Incentive Deep Breathing Spirometer Exerciser is probably a better fit for you. For most people, a pocket spirometers is just a fun little toy that you got at the hospital, used as directed and then threw in the back of your linen closet. But from time to time, why not use it to see how in shape you are and whether those hours on the elliptical or running track are paying off?

Are There Certain Times of Day When I Should Use the Spirometer? Some people find that the mornings are the worst times to use spirometers, while others have found the opposite to be true. Just as you should weigh yourself only once a week, you should only check your lung capacity at certain times of the day. This way, the reading will be consistent over the course of the weeks, rather than varied because you varied the times. It's also a good idea to stand or sit in the same position whenever you are measuring your breathing.

Like a door prize from your hospital stay, most people will have to use a spirometer when they are recuperating. At first, the nurses or the doctor might have you try out the spirometers whenever they come to check in on you. If you are having troubles with your breathing or your measurements get lower, you might be taken for additional tests to make sure your lungs and throat are okay. Too often, pulmonary emboli can occur from sitting too long after a surgery, so this tool allows medical practitioners the chance to make sure this doesn't happen.

Will the Spirometer Strengthen My Lungs?

While it might seem like using spirometers is a lot of work for your lungs (at first), this really isn't meant to be a strengthening tool. The measurements can be inspiring and they can certainly help you focus on breathing in and out more deeply, but only exercise and activity can really strengthen your lungs and increase your lung capacity. Of course, if your lungs are severely compromised, the device can help you a little to build up the strength, but after a while, this effect goes away. Check with your doctor before trying anything strenuous, especially after surgery.