Colds, influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses can make breathing harder, especially if you live with COPD or another heart or lung condition. If you use home oxygen, you may be wondering whether to keep using it when you’re sick, how to reduce your risk of infection, and when it’s time to seek medical help.
In most cases, you should continue using your oxygen as prescribed while paying close attention to your symptoms, keeping your equipment clean, and taking practical steps to reduce your risk of illness. Oxygen plays an important role in your care, but it won’t treat the infection itself or replace medical advice when you’re sick.
At a Glance: Using Home Oxygen When You’re Sick
- Continue using oxygen exactly as prescribed
- Don’t raise or lower your flow rate unless your healthcare provider or respiratory therapist tells you to
- Keep your oxygen equipment clean according to your supplier’s instructions
- Continue prescribed inhalers and medications unless told otherwise
- Contact your healthcare provider if your breathing is worse than usual or your oxygen readings fall outside your established range
⚠️ Call 9-1-1 for severe difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, extreme drowsiness, trouble speaking because of breathlessness, or blue or grey colouring around the lips or fingertips.
Jump to a Section
- Why Cold and Flu Season Can Be More Challenging for Oxygen Users
- Can You Continue Oxygen Therapy When You Have a Cold or Flu?
- Tips for Staying Healthy During Cold and Flu Season
- How to Keep Oxygen Equipment Clean During Cold and Flu Season
- Managing Respiratory Symptoms While Using Home Oxygen
- Warning Signs That Require Medical Attention
- How We Support Patients Using Home Oxygen
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Cold and Flu Season Can Be More Challenging for Oxygen Users
A respiratory infection can cause inflammation, congestion, coughing, and increased mucus. These symptoms may make breathing more difficult or leave you feeling more short of breath than usual.
If you have COPD, a respiratory infection may trigger a flare-up. Possible signs include increased coughing, worsening breathlessness, wheezing, and changes in the amount, colour, or thickness of mucus.
Illness can also make everyday tasks feel more exhausting. Walking from room to room, preparing meals, or taking a shower may require more effort than usual. This doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem with your oxygen equipment, but any noticeable change deserves attention.
Know your baseline: If monitoring oxygen levels is part of your care plan, knowing your usual range can help you recognize a change. Oxygen readings should be considered alongside how you feel and interpreted according to the instructions provided by your healthcare team.
Can You Continue Oxygen Therapy When You Have a Cold or Flu?
Yes. In most cases, you should continue using oxygen therapy when you have a cold, flu, or another respiratory illness. Follow the flow rate and schedule prescribed by your healthcare provider, and don’t change your oxygen setting on your own.
Oxygen helps support your prescribed blood oxygen level, but it won’t treat the virus, fever, inflammation, or congestion causing your illness. Depending on your symptoms, you may still need medical care, testing, or medication.
If you have a written COPD or respiratory action plan, follow the instructions in that plan. Continue prescribed inhalers and other medications unless a healthcare professional tells you otherwise.
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if:
- Your breathing is worse than usual
- Your oxygen therapy doesn’t seem to be helping as much as it normally does
- Your oxygen reading is outside the range your healthcare team gave you
- You have a new fever, chest discomfort, or persistent cough
- Your mucus increases or changes colour
- You’re unsure whether your illness requires treatment
⚠️ Seek emergency help if you’re severely short of breath, confused, unusually drowsy, unable to speak normally because of breathlessness, or experiencing chest pain.
Related Reading: Common Challenges of Home Oxygen Therapy
Tips for Staying Healthy During Cold and Flu Season
Some of the best ways to stay healthy during cold and flu season include washing your hands regularly, avoiding close contact with sick people, staying current on recommended vaccines, and maintaining healthy daily habits.
The Government of Canada notes that influenza and RSV activity commonly increase during the fall and winter, while COVID-19 can circulate at any time of year. It recommends using several protective measures together rather than relying on only one. Review Canada’s respiratory illness guidance.
Wash Your Hands Regularly
Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your cannula, mask, humidifier bottle, or other oxygen supplies. Clean hands can help keep germs away from equipment that comes into close contact with your face.
Handwashing is especially important:
- Before putting on or adjusting your cannula
- Before cleaning oxygen equipment
- After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
- After returning home from a public place
- Before preparing food or taking medication
Reduce Exposure When Possible
If friends or family members are feeling unwell, ask them to visit another time. Stay home when you’re sick when possible, and limit close contact with others.
In busy indoor spaces, a well-fitting mask may offer another layer of protection. Opening windows when weather and air quality allow, or using appropriately maintained ventilation or filtration, may also help improve indoor air.
Avoid sharing drinking glasses, utensils, towels, cannulas, masks, or other personal respiratory equipment.
Discuss Recommended Vaccinations
Vaccination is an important part of reducing the risk of serious illness from respiratory infections.
Ask your physician, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare provider which influenza, COVID-19, RSV, or other vaccines are recommended based on your age, medical history, and individual risk factors. Recommendations and vaccine availability may vary by province and individual circumstances.
Support Your Overall Health
A few healthy habits can help your body recover and stay stronger during illness:
- Take prescribed medications consistently
- Drink fluids as directed by your healthcare provider
- Eat regular, nourishing meals
- Allow time for sleep and rest
- Pace demanding activities
- Keep inhalers and medication refills available
- Avoid tobacco smoke, vaping, strong fumes, and other breathing triggers
- Keep a current list of medications and healthcare contacts
For help understanding a change in your breathing, learn more about our https://www.pulseair.ca/respiratory-consultationsrespiratory consultations and https://www.pulseair.ca/pulmonary-function-testingpulmonary function testing.
How to Keep Oxygen Equipment Clean During Cold and Flu Season
Clean your oxygen equipment according to the instructions provided by your equipment supplier and manufacturer. Wash your hands first, clean only the approved parts, and allow reusable components to dry completely before putting them back into use.
Cleaning requirements vary by device and accessory. The instructions supplied with your specific equipment should always take priority over general advice.
General equipment-care reminders:
- Nasal cannula: Replace your cannula according to your supplier’s schedule or sooner if it becomes damaged, dirty, stiff, or discoloured.
- Oxygen mask: Wash removable mask parts only as directed, rinse them thoroughly, and allow them to air dry completely.
- Long oxygen tubing: Don’t soak long tubing unless your equipment instructions specifically say it’s safe. Moisture can become trapped inside.
- Concentrator exterior: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for shutting down or unplugging the unit before cleaning. Wipe the exterior as directed, and never place the concentrator in water.
- Filters: Clean or replace filters according to the manufacturer’s schedule. Allow washable filters to dry completely before reinstalling them.
- Humidifier bottle: Use only the type of water recommended by your oxygen provider. Clean the bottle, replace the water, and replace the bottle itself according to your equipment instructions.
⚠️ Don’t use bleach, alcohol, scented cleaners, essential oils, vinegar, or homemade disinfectants unless your equipment supplier or manufacturer has specifically approved them for your device.
Different oxygen systems may have different cleaning requirements. If you become sick, ask your oxygen provider whether any disposable supplies should be replaced sooner than usual.
Related Reading: Winter Emergency Preparedness: A Guide for Home Oxygen Users
Managing Respiratory Symptoms While Using Home Oxygen
When you’re sick, pay attention to how you’re feeling throughout the day. Focus on changes from your usual symptoms rather than comparing yourself to others.
Pay attention to:
- How much effort it takes to breathe
- Whether you can speak and move around normally
- New or more frequent coughing
- Changes in mucus
- Fever, chills, unusual fatigue, or poor appetite
- Headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, or confusion
- Oxygen readings, if monitoring is part of your care plan
Continue your prescribed oxygen, CPAP or other PAP therapy, inhalers, and medications as directed. If congestion makes your cannula uncomfortable, contact your respiratory therapist before making any changes to your equipment or oxygen settings.
Before reaching for cold medicine: Not all cold medicines are right for everyone. Check with a pharmacist or healthcare provider before taking any over-the-counter cold medicine.
If you use oxygen with CPAP or another PAP device, don’t change how the devices are connected without professional guidance.
Warning Signs That Require Medical Attention
Contact your healthcare provider if your breathing becomes worse, your oxygen readings fall outside your established range, or your illness isn’t improving as expected.
Call your healthcare provider promptly for:
- More shortness of breath than usual
- Increased or discoloured mucus
- A persistent fever or worsening cough
- New or worsening wheezing
- Difficulty completing normal activities
- Symptoms that aren’t improving as expected
- Concerns about oxygen readings or equipment performance
When Is It an Emergency?
Call 9-1-1 for:
- Severe or rapidly worsening difficulty breathing
- Blue or grey lips, fingertips, or fingernails
- Chest pain
- New confusion, extreme drowsiness, or difficulty staying awake
- Inability to speak normally because of breathlessness
- A medical emergency identified in your personal action plan
Don’t drive yourself to the hospital if you’re experiencing severe breathing difficulty or another medical emergency.
How We Support Patients Using Home Oxygen
Managing oxygen therapy during a respiratory illness can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already tired or short of breath. Our team helps patients understand their oxygen equipment, follow their prescribed therapy, and know when changes should be reported to a healthcare provider.
Depending on your needs and referral, PulseAir services may include:
- Home oxygen services
- Pulmonary function testing
- Respiratory or pulmonary consultations
- Sleep apnea education and treatment
If you have questions about your equipment or respiratory care, contact our team. If your symptoms are severe or worsening quickly, call 9-1-1 rather than waiting for a routine response.
This information is intended for general education and isn’t a substitute for personalized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use oxygen therapy when I have the flu?
In most cases, you should continue using your oxygen at the prescribed setting unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. Oxygen supports your prescribed blood oxygen level, but it doesn’t treat influenza itself.
Can a cold affect my oxygen levels?
It can. Congestion, inflammation, and respiratory infections may make breathing more difficult, and some illnesses may affect blood oxygen levels. Contact your healthcare provider if your oxygen readings fall outside your established range or your breathing becomes worse.
How often should oxygen equipment be cleaned?
Always follow the cleaning schedule provided by your oxygen supplier and equipment manufacturer. Some items need attention more often than others, and disposable supplies should be replaced as recommended.
Should oxygen users get flu and COVID-19 vaccinations?
Vaccination may be recommended based on your age, medical history, and risk factors. Speak with your physician, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare provider about which vaccines are appropriate for you.
Can respiratory infections make COPD symptoms worse?
Yes. Respiratory infections may trigger COPD flare-ups and contribute to increased coughing, mucus, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Contact your healthcare provider when symptoms become worse than your usual COPD baseline.
When should I contact my healthcare provider?
Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms are worse than usual, your mucus changes, you develop a persistent fever, your oxygen readings fall outside your established range, or your respiratory action plan instructs you to seek care.
What symptoms should be treated as an emergency?
Call 9-1-1 for severe shortness of breath, chest pain, blue or grey colouring, confusion, extreme drowsiness, difficulty staying awake, or trouble speaking because of breathlessness.