Signs the Senior You Care for Needs Supplemental Oxygen

As the caregiver of a senior adult, it’s essential to keep a close eye on their health and note any challenges or struggles. While we can blame certain struggles on aging, some may be symptoms of a much more serious health condition that affects different bodily functions such as breathing. Keep reading to learn about some of the signs that your senior needs supplemental oxygen to help with these serious health conditions.

Shortness of Breath

Dyspnea, more commonly known as shortness of breath, is when someone can’t get enough air. They may experience a sense of suffocation, chest tightening, difficulty breathing, or air hunger while being short of breath. While healthy people may become short of breath during exercise, in high altitudes, or during extreme temperatures, it’s a medical problem if someone is short of breath outside of these scenarios. If the senior in your care is frequently short of breath, then they may need one of several types of portable oxygen machines.

Fatigue and Irritability

Many caregivers dismiss these symptoms because they’re so natural. It’s a common trope in many Western cultures that seniors are sleepy and crotchety most of the time. However, if you notice that your senior is overly fatigued or becoming uncommonly irritable, this could be a sign that their body isn’t getting the oxygen it needs. During times of fatigue or irritability, try to test their oxygen levels to see if that’s the real underlying problem.

Blue Fingertips and Lips

Cyanosis is the medical term for when fingertips, lips, and other body parts turn blue. If someone is dark-skinned, this blue tint will be easier to recognize around their eyes, under their nails, and in their mouth. This is a sign that there’s not enough oxygen in their blood, although poor circulation, cold temperatures, certain medications, and tight clothing can also cause it. To determine whether the cyanosis is due to one of these less serious causes or a major medical condition, check oxygen levels and watch for additional symptoms such as shortness of breath.

Ankle Swelling

The medical term for swelling in different body parts is called edema. Edema in the ankles can have minor and major causes, from a salty diet to diseased organs. Your senior may be at an increased risk of ankle swelling if they are on certain medications. However, edema coupled with any of the previously listed symptoms could mean that your senior needs additional oxygen.

Shortness of breath, fatigue, irritability, blue fingertips or lips, and swollen ankles are all signs that your senior needs supplemental oxygen. Remember to test their oxygen levels if they exhibit any of these symptoms and discuss these symptoms with their doctor as soon as possible to determine if oxygen therapy or another form of treatment is right for them.