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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is It Safe For An Elderly Person To Migrate To An Area Above Sea Level When Using An Oxygen Concentrator?

MY FATHER IS 98 YEARS OLD; WAS HOSPITALIZED LAST YEAR WITH CHF, SEEMS TO BE DOING WELL NOW ACCORDING TO DOCTORS. WE ARE PLANNING ON MOVING TO ARIZONA SOON TO AN ELEVATION OF 4700 FT ELEVATION, HE HAS LIVED AT SEA LEVEL FOR THE LAST 70 YEARS. HE USES A OXYGEN CONCENTRATER ABOUT 2 TO 3 HOURS A DAY AT 2.5 OR 3. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONSTHAT MIGHT HELP ME IN THIS TRANSITION? THANK YOU
Thu, 26 Jun 2014
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Geriatrics Specialist,  's  Response
Hi,
CHF could lead to pulmonary edema leading to reduced efficient transfer of oxygen across alveoli in the lungs to RBCs in the blood. As the elevation increases, the oxygen percentage also reduces and breathing could be more difficult.
During this transition period, he might require more amount of time in the oxygen concentrator to improve his oxygen level.
Make sure that he is the best shape to move and his overall lungs has very less fluid to impinge gas exchange between alveoli and RBCs.
Slowly he might get used to Arizona climate and might come back to original 2-3 hours in oxygen concentrator.
Hope this helps.
Any further query, happy to help again.
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Is It Safe For An Elderly Person To Migrate To An Area Above Sea Level When Using An Oxygen Concentrator?

Hi, CHF could lead to pulmonary edema leading to reduced efficient transfer of oxygen across alveoli in the lungs to RBCs in the blood. As the elevation increases, the oxygen percentage also reduces and breathing could be more difficult. During this transition period, he might require more amount of time in the oxygen concentrator to improve his oxygen level. Make sure that he is the best shape to move and his overall lungs has very less fluid to impinge gas exchange between alveoli and RBCs. Slowly he might get used to Arizona climate and might come back to original 2-3 hours in oxygen concentrator. Hope this helps. Any further query, happy to help again.