What is oxygen therapy?
Oxygen therapy is a treatment that uses oxygen to help people who have breathing problems. It can be used to help treat certain lung diseases, like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), pneumonia, and emphysema. The amount of oxygen that you need depends on your symptoms and the type of illness or injury that caused them. Often, you will be given a device called an oxygen monitor to measure the amount of oxygen in your blood before and during treatment. Oxygen therapy is often given at home using a concentrator or portable oxygen tank, but it can also be given in hospital settings.
Who needs oxygen therapy?
Oxygen therapy is a treatment that uses oxygen to help people who have difficulty breathing or who are sick or recovering from an injury. Oxygen therapy can help with a variety of breathing problems, including:
-Asthma and other lung problems
-Pneumonia or lung infection
-Heart failure
-Emphysema (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
What are the benefits of oxygen therapy?
Oxygen therapy can be used to aid with breathing. If you have a lung condition, such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, oxygen therapy may be prescribed to help ease your symptoms. It can also help relieve shortness of breath. If you’re having trouble breathing after surgery or injury, oxygen therapy may be prescribed to help your body recover. Oxygen therapy is often used during pregnancy to treat gestational diabetes and preterm labor. Oxygen therapy may also be used for other conditions that cause shortness of breath and fatigue, such as heart failure .
Where does oxygen therapy take place?
You can receive oxygen therapy at home, in a hospital or clinic.
What are the types of oxygen therapy systems?
The type of oxygen therapy system you choose depends on your needs and the space in which it will be used.
- Oxygen concentrators: These devices take air from the room, filter out carbon dioxide and other impurities, then compress the remaining oxygen into a portable tank (similar to what's used for scuba diving). Home oxygen therapy systems can be used in any room of your house. Portable concentrator systems are similar to home systems but come with a battery pack, making them easier to use outside the home.
- Compressed gas cylinders: These tanks store compressed oxygen under pressure so that it can be easily dispensed through an IV line or mask when necessary. They're often used in hospitals where there's no electricity available or when patients need continuous access to high concentrations of medical-grade O2.
How long do people need oxygen therapy?
How long a patient needs oxygen therapy depends on their condition and other factors. It can be used for a short period of time, such as a few weeks or months, or for several years. Your doctor will make recommendations about how long you should use oxygen therapy and how often it should be administered. It's important to follow these instructions carefully so that you don't cause further damage to your body or worsen your condition.
Conclusion
We hope this blog has given you a better understanding of oxygen therapy and its benefits. Oxygen therapy can be used for a variety of conditions and ailments, including COPD, hypoxia and more. It's important to speak with your doctor about whether oxygen therapy is right for you and how it will be used.
