For most oxygen therapy patients, learning how to use a nasal cannula as comfortably as possible is an important step in easily incorporating oxygen therapy into their lives. But for many people, figuring out how to wear the oxygen nose piece properly and learning what to do with all the tubing can be confusing. If you are unsure where to put the excess tubing and whether your nasal cannula prongs go up or down, let us walk you through how to wear your nasal cannula comfortably and find the right fit.
Read on to learn how to choose the appropriate type of nasal cannula, how to put on a nasal cannula and how to ensure the oxygen nose piece fits properly. After that, you can read some of our tips to help ensure you have the most comfortable nasal cannula possible.
Beginning oxygen therapy requires some adjustments, and one of those adjustments is learning how to properly wear a nasal cannula. A nasal cannula is how you will be receiving your oxygen during oxygen therapy. The nasal cannula is a flexible tube that is placed underneath the nose with two prongs that are placed inside the nostrils, through which the oxygen is delivered. Because the oxygen nose piece is less invasive than a face mask and allows the patient to talk and eat freely, nasal cannulas are the most common method for administering oxygen therapy.[1]
While finding the correct nasal cannula placement is one part of the equation, choosing the right size cannula is another essential part of ensuring that you have the most comfortable nasal cannula possible. Without the correct size and type of nasal cannula, you may experience more discomfort from the oxygen nose piece than you should.
Since there are different sizes of nasal cannulas available, it is important to choose the correct size for your nostril size and shape. The oxygen nose piece should fit snugly into your nostrils without coming out, but it is important to make sure it does not go too far back into the nostril either. With proper nasal cannula placement, the oxygen nose piece should feel comfortable when placed all the way inside the nostrils, without any rubbing or pinching. Rubbing against your nostrils probably indicates that the oxygen nose piece is too large, while pinching indicates that it is the wrong size for your nose shape.[2] Once you have found the right oxygen nose piece for you, it is time to figure out your correct nasal cannula placement.
To find the right nasal cannula placement, insert the prongs of your oxygen nose piece into your nostrils, then take the oxygen tubes on either side of your face and lift the tubes, placing them over your ears like you would glasses. Then, use the slider that holds the tubes where they come together under your chin to adjust the fit. The tubes of your nasal cannula should fit snugly over the tops of your ears and against your jaw and chin. You should have enough room to fit two fingers between the tubing and your chin for the most comfortable nasal cannula fit. If you are able to wear it comfortably after a couple uses, you are wearing it correctly![2] If you find that it is uncomfortable, however, here are a few tips.
If you find that you are experiencing discomfort, irritation or slipping while wearing your nasal cannula, you may want to try some of the following tips. It may be that your nasal cannula placement is not quite right, or you may need to try a few modifications to find the most comfortable nasal cannula set-up for you. Here are some things you can try.[2]
For the majority of nasal cannula users, these tips are sufficient. As you get used to the nasal cannula placement, you will be able to find your most comfortable nasal cannula positioning relatively quickly. Do be aware, however, that with weather changes and changes in the temperature or texture of your skin, you may need to make small adjustments. And, of course, new tubing will require adjustment as well.
If, after trying each of the tips above, you still find that you are unable to find the most comfortable nasal cannula placement, you may need some additional solutions. Some people experience skin irritation and nasal dryness with nasal cannula use. Thankfully, most of these complications can be resolved easily with the following solutions.
Are you finding that your nasal cannula is slipping out at night or waking you up uncomfortable? If you want to know how to make a nasal cannula more comfortable while you are sleeping, the following tips might be helpful.
First, see if you can discover what is bothering you about your oxygen nose piece at night. It could be that your nasal cannula just doesn’t fit you correctly. As you move around in your sleep, your oxygen nose piece could be moving around in your nostrils more than it should, and that could explain why it falls out or feels uncomfortable while you sleep. A nasal cannula that is too large can cause irritation in your nostrils, and is less likely to stay in place correctly.[2]
Alternately, if you are waking up feeling like your septum is being pinched, it could be that your oxygen nose piece is too small.[2] If your nasal cannula seems to fit correctly, but you are still experiencing discomfort when you wake up in the morning, your oxygen nose piece tubing could be too stiff. Consider exploring a more flexible cannula, or a thinner oxygen nose piece, to see if that solves your problem.
Adjusting to life with oxygen therapy also means learning to adjust your nasal cannula correctly. However, learning how to put on a nasal cannula is relatively simple and will become second nature to you the more you practice it. Once you have learned how to adjust the fit of your oxygen nose piece and your tubing to create the proper nasal cannula placement for you, you can comfortably wear your nasal cannula at any time, day or night, to get your oxygen treatments when and where you need them.[2] It may take a little getting used to as you learn how to make your nasal cannula more comfortable for you, but as you become accustomed to wearing it, you will learn what works best for you. And, because a nasal cannula allows you to receive your oxygen therapy even while you eat or speak, your oxygen therapy should be minimally intrusive.
Contact us today to learn more about nasal cannulas and find out how you can experience oxygen therapy with the Inogen One portable oxygen concentrator.
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Inogen® Portable Oxygen Concentrators
USES: Inogen® Portable Oxygen Concentrators provide a high concentration of supplemental oxygen to patients requiring respiratory therapy on a prescriptive basis. It may be used in home, institution, vehicle and various mobile environments.
DO NOT USE IF: This device is not intended to be used in any way other than described in the indications for use. Do not use in parallel or series with other oxygen concentrators or oxygen therapy devices. This device is to be used as an oxygen supplement and is not intended to be life sustaining or life supporting. ONLY use this product if the patient is capable of spontaneous breath, able to inhale and exhale without the use of a machine. The conserving, or pulse dose, oxygen delivery technique used by this device is contraindicated in persons whose breathing during normal resting would be unable to trigger the device. Proper device triggering, set up and operation must be confirmed by an experienced clinician or other respiratory professional. Not for use by tracheotomized patients. Use of this device has not been studied in pediatric populations. Consult your physician before using the product for pediatric patients.
WARNINGS: The device produces enriched oxygen gas, which accelerates combustion. Do not allow smoking or open flames within 2m (6.56ft) of this device while in use. If you feel ill or uncomfortable, or if the concentrator does not signal an oxygen pulse and you are unable to hear and/or feel the oxygen pulse, consult your equipment provider and/or your physician immediately. If you are unable to communicate discomfort, you may require additional monitoring and or a distributed alarm system to convey the information about the discomfort and or the medical urgency to your responsible caregiver to avoid harm. Use only spare parts recommended by the manufacturer to ensure proper function and to avoid the risk of fire and burns. To avoid danger of choking or strangulation hazard, keep cords away from children and pets.
TALK TO YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: The oxygen flow setting must be determined and recorded for each patient individually by the prescriber, including the configuration of the device, its parts and the accessories. It is the responsibility of the patient to periodically reassess the setting(s) of the therapy for effectiveness. The proper placement and positioning of the prongs of the nasal cannula in the nose is critical for oxygen to be delivered.
Inogen At Home® Stationary Oxygen Concentrator
USES: The Inogen At Home® Oxygen Concentrator is used on a prescriptive basis by patients requiring supplemental oxygen. It supplies a high concentration of oxygen and is used with a nasal cannula to channel oxygen from the concentrator to the patient. The Inogen At Home® Oxygen Concentrator may be used in a home or institution.
DO NOT USE IF: This device is not intended to be used in any way other than described in the indications for use. This device is to be used as an oxygen supplement and is not intended to be life sustaining or life supporting. ONLY use this product if the patient is capable of spontaneous breath, able to inhale and exhale without the use of a machine. Not for pediatric use. Not for use by tracheotomized patients.
WARNINGS: The device produces enriched oxygen gas, which accelerates combustion. Do not use the device when smoking or near open flame, matches, petroleum, oil, grease, solvents, radiant heaters, aerosols, etc. If you feel ill or uncomfortable, consult your equipment provider and/or your physician immediately. If you are unable to communicate discomfort, you may require additional monitoring and or a distributed alarm system to convey the information about the discomfort and or the medical urgency to your responsible caregiver to avoid harm. Use only spare parts recommended by the manufacturer to ensure proper function and to avoid the risk of fire and burns. To avoid danger of choking or strangulation hazard, keep cords away from children and pets.
TALK TO YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: The oxygen flow setting must be determined and recorded for each patient individually by the prescriber, including the configuration of the device, its parts and the accessories. It is the responsibility of the patient to periodically reassess the setting(s) of the therapy for effectiveness. The proper placement and positioning of the prongs of the nasal cannula in the nose is critical for oxygen to be delivered.
Rove 4, Rove 6, G3, G4, G5, Inogen, Inogen At Home, and Inogen One are trademarks of Inogen, Inc. The usage of any Inogen, Inc. trademarks is strictly forbidden without the prior consent of Inogen, Inc. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.
The Inogen® portable oxygen concentrators are available by prescription only. For safe and proper use of the Inogen® devices, please refer to https://www.inogen.com/support/inogen-manuals/
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