Traveling to High Altitude Locations with Oxygen

Traveling to High Altitude Locations with Oxygen

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Even those who don’t have COPD or other chronic lung diseases, can have a hard time in high altitudes. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can happen when you aren’t used to a high altitude and you ascend too quickly for your body to adjust properly. AMS symptoms are difficulty sleeping, fatigue, headache, nausea or vomiting, unusual shortness of breath and a rapid pulse.

It’s usually caught and treated in the mild stage, but severe AMS symptoms include chest tightness or congestion, a bluish tint to the skin, cough, confusion, inability to walk a straight line and coughing up blood. Needless to say, it can become life threatening if left untreated properly by medical personnel.

High altitudes can be serious business, as they can severely effect people with otherwise healthy lungs. If you’re using an oxygen concentrator, this can give you a good buffer for dealing with the thinner air of higher altitudes. If you’re talking about traveling up into the mountains, however, you will need to take some precautions.

All oxygen concentrators have a maximum operational altitude. This is the altitude at which your oxygen concentrator will still work just as well to deliver the same oxygen purity and volume that it did at lower altitudes. This maximum operational altitude is located in the specifications on the product page of the website for the oxygen concentrator, in the owners manual, or on the manufacturer’s website.

Some oxygen concentrators will work just as well at a little over 8,000 feet, while others can go as high as 10,000, or 13,000 feet, and still deliver the same high oxygen purity. It’s not wise to use an oxygen concentrator beyond its maximum operational altitude, for several reasons. It can cause damage to the concentrator, because it will start to work harder to produce the same amount of oxygen at the same purity. You also won’t receive the amount of oxygen you need.

Besides staying under the maximum operational altitude, it’s also important to go ascend slowly to allow yourself to grow accustomed to the higher altitudes. Take a few days before moving up, and then take the same amount of time when you’re ready to come back down to where you were. It won’t cause any kind of shock to your body, and your lungs, which are more sensitive and susceptible, will have time to adjust.

The most important things to do, is talk to you doctor before you go on any high altitude journeys. He or she will instruct you on safety, and let you know how much to increase your oxygen settings if you need to. He or she will also let you know if it’s wise for you to do this at this point in time, and if you can physically handle it. You may also need to bring a pulse oximeter, so you can keep an eye on your blood oxygen level periodically. If you start to feel unwell, call a doctor and don’t push yourself.

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Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more.

Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

About Scott Ridl:

Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more. Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

19 thoughts on “Traveling to High Altitude Locations with Oxygen

  1. Would an Inogen G3 be appropriate for Machu Picchu (7000+ feet above sea level) and the town you must go to to get to Machu Picchu–Cusco Peru (11,200 feet above sea level)? We would have an oxygen enriched hotel room in Cusco but would need the G3 for touring.

    • Thank you for your question, the Inogen G3’s manual states they are able to function up-to an altitude of 10,000 feet maximum. If you are needing the unit to function properly at the 11,000+ feet you specified, this will not be possible as the maximum is 10,000 feet.

  2. I charter planes with the door off to photograph from the air up to 10,000 ft. and like to take my wife as a passenger. but lately she feels uncomportable above 8000 ft. Will the G4 ( I want the smallest potable unit) operate upto 10,000 ft. I will seprately get advice from a specialist regarding the use of the oxygen concentrator .

  3. I want an option to go above 6k’ up to 14k’. I need something packable and lightweight. What are my options?

    • Thank you for your inquiry. I have passed along your information to a specialist who will reach out regarding your request. For more immediate assistance feel free to give our specialists a call at 888-360-9628 or if you prefer email sales@amsrco.com

  4. LOOKING INTO PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATAR, O.K. FOR HIGHER ALTITUTE,TRAVELING IN AIRPLANES AND CAN ALSO BE USED FOR OVERSEAS (22O V)
    NEED NIGHTTIME OXYGEN MAINLY, OR WHEN OVEREXERTING MYSELF. IS THE I BENOGEN 3OR4 BETTER OR THE AIRSEP FOCUS ?

    • Thank you for your inquiry. I have passed along your information to a specialist who will reach out regarding your request. For more immediate assistance feel free to give our specialists a call at 888-360-9628 or if you prefer email sales@amsrco.com

    • Hi Fred, As the Portable Oxygen Concentrators are by prescription to obtain one and they only provide medical grade oxygen. Hiking at altitude and wanting supplemental oxygen can be done from other manufacturers who specialize this.

  5. I occasionally stay at a hotel in Vail,, Colorado- 8000 feet. The rooms do not have oxygen pumped in.is there any equipment that I can purchase to bring in the room that will allow me to get a decent nights sleep,, which I never do. This is a favorite family destination and I would like to be able to go and get a good nights sleep .

    • Hi Carol, Vail is indeed a great place and we’d like to take care of your oxygen needs so you can spend quality time with your family. All the portable oxygen concentrators we carry are compatible up to 10,000 feet which covers your altitude requirement. To zero in on which oxygen concentrator would be the best for you, we’d like to know what liter-flow you’ve been prescribed. We can quickly answer all your questions over a phone call. Please reach us out at (888) 387-5914. We are open seven days a week.

      • Yes but she will be at much higher altitudes if driving by car to get there. Altitude is much higher than 8,000 ft to get there but of course once there then it is ok.

  6. I Have been using a TB-B1 portable oxygen concentrator that puts out 3L of 30% oxygen. what is the maximum operational altitude?

    • Unfortunately, the oxygen concentrator you are using does not provide medical-grade oxygen as you mentioned it supplies oxygen at 30%. Medical-grade oxygen needs to be over 86% pure. Your concentrator will not supply ample oxygen to meet the required FiO2 (Fraction of inspired oxygen). Please discuss this with your physician.
      Please check the user’s manual for operational altitude range.

  7. Currently, I don’t have a prescription for Oxygen. Don’t need it because I live close to sea level. However, I wish to travel through the Rocky Mountains and I had AFIB but had an Ablation procedure over 8 months ago. My heart rhythm is steady, except for one very brief, very light event a couple of weeks ago. But, my heart rate has always run slow. My bpm runs close to 55 bpm. I’m concerned about going up to altitude. Can I safely and effectively use a Oxygen Concentrator without a prescription? If you can, please reply to my email address incase I have trouble navigating back to this site. Thank you for your help.

    • Yes, all oxygen concentrators require a prescription for purchase. Our Oxygen Specialist would be happy to help you out with your prescription requirements with our partnership with Quick MD. Please give us a call at (866) 993-8067.

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