If you live in or visit the mountains, you know the air becomes thinner at higher elevations. Although your body can adjust after several days or weeks, there’s still less oxygen available for you to breathe. And less oxygen to breathe also means your oxygen concentrator has less oxygen to work with. Therefore, you need an oxygen concentrator with enough strength to operate at higher elevations.
If you’re planning a trip to the mountains, but your lung capacity isn’t what it used to be, consult your doctor to ensure you’re healthy enough. If you require supplemental oxygen on your trip, an oxygen concentrator may be the best option to keep you healthy. You’ll need to ensure you’re choosing a concentrator fit to work at high elevations.
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How Does Altitude Affect Oxygen?
The air becomes thinner at higher elevations, but this does not mean the air composition changes. Air consists of roughly 21% oxygen at all altitudes.
It’s the air pressure that changes at different altitudes. Lower air pressure at higher altitudes makes it feel like there’s less oxygen, making breathing more difficult, especially for people with COPD. This feeling comes from fewer oxygen molecules available for breathing as the altitude increases.
How Does Altitude Affect Oxygen Concentrators?
Gas molecules, like oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen, are crammed together closer to sea level. As air rises, it expands, and air pressure decreases, causing gas molecules to spread out, meaning you breathe less oxygen with each breath.
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Not only can this become problematic for breathing, but oxygen concentrators also must work harder to take in these molecules and produce enough medical-grade oxygen for you to breathe.
Therefore, you need an oxygen concentrator strong enough to work efficiently at high elevations.
The following oxygen concentrators provide a high maximum operational elevation; you’ll receive the same high oxygen purity level without straining your machine. They’re also FAA-approved for airline travel on U.S. flights.
CAIRE SeQual Eclipse 5
With a long battery life and the ability to work efficiently at high altitudes, the CAIRE SeQual Eclipse 5 is one of the best portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) to use at high elevations.
- Maximum operational elevation: 13,123 feet above sea level
- Weight: 18.4 pounds with the battery
- Dimensions: 19.3″ tall x 12.3″ wide x 7.1″ deep
- Oxygen delivery: pulse dose settings 1-9 and continuous flow up to 3 liters per minute (lpm)
- Battery duration: up to 5 hours on a pulse dose setting of 2
CAIRE Freestyle Comfort
This lightweight POC fits comfortably on your body, making it ideal for anyone who wants to stay active at high elevations.
- Maximum operational elevation: 10,000 feet
- Weight: 5 pounds (with the 8-cell battery)
- Dimensions: 7.3″ wide x 3.1″ deep x 10″ high (with the 8-cell battery)
- Oxygen delivery: pulse dose settings 1-5
- Battery duration: up to 4 hours with the 8-cell battery on pulse setting of 2
Oxlife Independence
Xem thêm : U.S. Food and Drug Administration
This POC includes a carrying cart with wheels, making it a great choice for anyone looking for portable continuous-flow oxygen and long battery life.
- Maximum operational elevation: 13,123 feet
- Weight: 16.7 pounds
- Dimensions: 10.9″ wide x 9.5″ deep x 20.3″ high
- Oxygen delivery: pulse dose settings 1-6 and continuous flow up to 3 lpm
- Battery duration: up to 6 hours on a pulse dose setting of 1
Philips Respironics SimplyGo
Weighing only 10 pounds, the SimplyGo is the lightest continuous flow POC on the market.
- Maximum operational elevation: up to 10,000 feet
- Weight: 10 pounds
- Dimensions: 11.5″ wide x 6″ deep x 10″ high
- Oxygen delivery: pulse dose settings 1-6 and continuous flow up to 2 lpm
- Battery duration: up to 3 hours on a pulse dose setting of 2
Inogen One G5
The small light-weight design and long battery life make this unit perfect for anyone who wants the freedom to hike through the mountains.
- Maximum operational elevation: up to 10,000 feet
- Weight: 4.8 pounds with the standard battery
- Dimensions: 7.19″ wide x 3.26″ deep x 8.15″ high with the standard battery
- Oxygen delivery: pulse dose settings 1-6
- Battery duration: about 5 hours with a standard battery on a setting of 2
Related Information
- Top-Rated Portable Concentrator for Travel
- Traveling to the National Parks with Oxygen
- Is there a Concentrator that Operate at an Elevation of 12000 Feet?
- Reviews on Portable Concentrators at High Altitudes
Updated: July 6, 2023 Published: February 24, 2015
Sources:
- https://www.higherpeak.com/altitudechart.html
- https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/altitude/
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