What is Oxygen Therapy?
Oxygen therapy, also known as supplemental oxygen therapy, refers to the medical use of oxygen as a treatment for conditions related to low levels of oxygen in the body. It involves delivering oxygen through various devices to the patient's nose or mouth using a nasal cannula or face mask. The amount of supplemental oxygen provided depends on the patient's medical needs and is prescribed by a doctor.
Forms
There are different forms of it based on the method and level of oxygen delivery. Some key forms include:
Pulse Dose Therapy
This involves delivering short, intermittent bursts of oxygen through a nasal cannula or mask. It is prescribed for conditions that do not require continuous oxygen delivery, such as exercise-induced bronchospasm. Pulse doses are typically 1–3 liters per minute (LPM) for 30 seconds every few minutes.
Continuous Flow Therapy
With this method, Oxygen Therapy flows continuously through nasal prongs or a mask at a constant prescribed rate. Rates generally range from 1–4 LPM for most conditions but can be higher based on medical need. This form is used for conditions that require round-the-clock supplemental oxygen.
High-Flow Therapy
This therapy uses non-invasive delivery systems like nasal cannulae that provide warmed, humidified oxygen at very high flow rates of up to 60 LPM. It is used for certain respiratory illnesses requiring high levels of oxygen support, especially in hospital settings.
Conditions Treated with Therapy
Some common medical conditions where oxygen therapy is utilized include:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD encompasses diseases like chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It affects the lungs and breathing, often limiting oxygen absorption. It helps supply extra oxygen to address hypoxemia, or low oxygen levels in the blood, especially during exertion or respiratory distress.
Cystic Fibrosis
This genetic disease damages lungs over time, making it difficult to breathe. It is often needed continuously to treat hypoxemia and aid breathing in patients with severe lung disease from cystic fibrosis.
Pneumonia
For certain cases of pneumonia where lungs fill with fluid and breathing is limited, supplemental oxygen may be prescribed to safely raise the oxygen level in the blood until the infection clears up. This helps treat and prevent hypoxemia.
Lung Cancer
Some lung cancer patients experience hypoxemia due to tumor growth obstructing airflow and impacting gas exchange in lungs. Oxygen therapy supports breathing and increases oxygen saturation until other treatments take effect.
Pulmonary Embolism
When a blood clot lodges in an artery in the lungs, it is called a pulmonary embolism. This can lower oxygen uptake. It temporarily boosts oxygen levels in such emergency cases until medication or other interventions dissolve the clot.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
This common breathing disorder occurs when throat muscles relax during sleep, interrupting normal breathing patterns. It may be used alongside CPAP treatment in severe cases to maintain adequate oxygen levels during the night.
Benefits
When used properly under medical guidance, supplemental it can provide significant relief from symptoms and slow disease progression for many respiratory conditions. Some benefits include:
- Raising oxygen levels in blood to address hypoxemia and reduce oxygen deficiency in tissues and organs.
- Reducing shortness of breath and respiratory distress by boosting oxygen carrying capacity of blood.
- Lowering heart rate and easing strain on the cardiovascular system.
- Allowing patients to be more physically active and mobile without getting winded easily.
- Improving cognitive functioning and quality of life by meeting body’s oxygen requirements and preventing related complications.
- Potentially extending lifespan for diseases like COPD when started early and used long-term as prescribed.
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