Posted by Sorcerer (38.193.50.58) on August 08, 1999 at 11:08:10:
In Reply to: Still Fighting To Get Oxygen Level Up to 8 posted by A Dame on August 07, 1999 at 00:50:23:
MaDame,
I'm gonna go out on a limb, here, and suggest that
there's NOTHING magical about a flow rate of 7-10 LPM other
than, for anyone using a non-rebreather mask, or a
simple mask with the holes taped-up, the higher flow rate
will permit you to breathe more easily. Lower flow rates
provide gas at rate below your normal inspiration volume,
producing resistance to breathing and forcing you to
inhale more slowly to adapt to the smaller volume of gas
available.
Could you become "anoxic" at a lower rate? Breathing a
non-mixture of 100% oxygen, it's highly unlikely! Just
inhale slowly and deeply, and the brain will recognize
the increased concentration of blood/O2 and won't send
the signal that you're oxygen deprived, which can be triggered
merely by the "sensation" that there may not be sufficient
available breathing gas.
At higher flow rates you can breathe more "normally" and
the blood/O2 concentration increases more rapidly,
with therapeutic concentrations being reached somewhat
faster.
The advantage, then, of a higher flow rate: quicker
resolution of symptoms.
The disadvantage: quicker depletion of the oxygen supply.
As far as "oxygen machines" and "concentrators," I
haven't the foggiest idea what those devices might be!
..d