Health

Oxygen Therapy: Benefits and Treatments for Various Health Conditions

In 2021 alone, over 20% of individuals across the globe have been diagnosed with issues like asthma and sleep apnea. The global pandemic has changed the way people’s lungs react to the outside world. Besides, the rise in pollution worldwide has started deteriorating the health of many individuals, leading to an increase in the rate of illnesses like lung cancer and chronic bronchitis. So hospitals today have started incorporating advanced treatments like medical oxygen therapy to treat their patients. And there are many benefits of oxygen treatment for the lungs and body. So this article will highlight the key areas where the benefits are applicable.

What Is Oxygen Therapy?

The human body’s cell metabolism requires oxygen (O2) for proper functioning. The O2 therapy is also commonly known as supplemental oxygen. The oxygen treatment or therapy is a procedure where the patients respirate 94 to 98 per cent saturated oxygen to prevent high O2 concentration damage. It is crucial to have the right amount of O2 in the air supplied to the patient to avoid oxygen toxicity and dryness of the lungs leading to its damage. 

People often overlook the benefits of supplemental O2 in treating Carbon monoxide poisoning, cluster headaches and other ailments. So the following section will explain the various benefits of undergoing this treatment for specific illnesses and disorders. 

Benefits of Medical O2 Therapy for Various Health Conditions

Medical oxygen antidotes have gotten more periodic amongst patients over the last few decades. Its popularity arises solely due to its effectiveness and high recovery rate post-treatment. So the following is a list of health conditions that take the help of the O2 therapy to allow the patient to reap its benefits and live a long healthy life:

  • Asthma: This is a respiratory condition where the individual finds it hard to breathe due to allergens in the environment. The primary causes of an asthma attack are pollen in the air and other pollutants like carbon monoxide. The vicious cycle of constant wheezing and sneezing can render the individual useless in performing simple tasks like walking or sleeping. So periodic supplemental oxygen treatment will help the individual’s breathing and improve resistance by accelerating the cell metabolism and freeway to the lungs. The rate of oxygen supply per minute will be as per their doctor’s prescription.
  • Cystic Fibrosis: This disorder is a commonly known genetic disorder passed from the parent to their offspring. The individual suffering from this ailment has problems with respiration due to thick mucus generation. Ordinarily, the mucus viscosity of an individual is higher than that of an individual with Cystic Fibrosis. So the medical oxygen prescription for such patients aids their breathing to simplify their life. It is a lifelong condition that is easily controllable if necessary precautions are in place. Besides, this chronic condition in people can hinder them if not treated early on. So O2 therapy prescription will help ease the breathing struggle and improve their quality of life by slowly replenishing the oxygen content in the lungs.
  • Pneumonia: This is the most common disease that affects the lungs during cold and rainy weather. The air sacs in the individual’s lungs get filled with pus, making it difficult to breathe. Individuals over the age of 65 and infants below the age of 2 are susceptible to catching pneumonia. So in the first stage, the bacteria or virus in the lungs is targeted using strong antibiotics. The patient is then monitored periodically and given a set dose of oxygen therapy to help replenish the O2 in the lungs. The treatment will help accelerate the recovery, making it easier for the patient to breathe.