Your body needs oxygen to live and function well. Oxygen is extremely vital to all your cells, keeping your bodies fit for active processes such as contracting muscles, digesting food, and even just thinking. This is why, when you have trouble breathing, you are often advised to seek medical attention immediately so you can be go through oxygen therapy.

An intervention that provides the patient with extra oxygen, oxygen therapy may be given as treatment for those who have difficulty breathing, such as when a person can’t get enough oxygen the natural way. However, this may not be the case for everyone. Find out more about oxygen therapy and how it is used as a medical intervention.

Do You Need Extra Oxygen?

Your doctor will be the one to assess whether you need oxygen and to prescribe its use. Usually, oxygen therapy is prescribed for individuals who can’t get the right amount of oxygen on their own because of certain lung conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumonia, heart failure, sleep apnea, cystic fibrosis, or a particular trauma to the respiratory system.

In order for doctors to determine your need for oxygen therapy, they will measure the level of oxygen found in your arterial blood. This can be done through the use of a pulse oximeter or an SpO2 sensor, a device that indirectly determines one’s blood-oxygen-saturation levels. This procedure is quick and noninvasive, as the pulse oximeter will only be clipped onto the patient’s finger while the device gets a reading.

Normally, a person’s arterial blood oxygen levels should fall between 75 and 100 mmHg, so a reading of 60 mmHg or lower should indicate the need for oxygen therapy.

What Should You Expect from Oxygen Therapy?

Oxygen therapy, which is also referred to as supplemental oxygen, is often administered in several ways, depending on your condition.

Oxygen may be delivered through tubes known as a nasal cannula, which is the most common approach to oxygen therapy. The apparatus used includes two small tubes that are fit snugly in the nostrils, which are attached to a longer air tube that is connected to an oxygen tank. For patients who have trouble using the nasal cannula or who need much more oxygen, a face mask may be used to administer oxygen as it efficiently covers the nose and mouth.

For extremely serious cases, the transtracheal approach may be performed, wherein the surgeon creates a hole in the patient’s windpipe, or trachea, where an air tube that runs from the oxygen tank will be inserted.

The oxygen tanks used for supplemental oxygen can range from small-sized ones, which are light enough to carry or wheel around, to larger-sized tanks, which are usually used at home.

Is Oxygen Safe to Use at Home?

Oxygen can be prescribed for use at home, but it is important to follow particular safety guidelines and measures to keep you and the household safe during oxygen therapy.

Although oxygen is a safe gas, it does catch fire. Because of this, it is strictly advised to never smoke, especially if you are near open flames, such as cigarette lighters, matches, or even a burning tobacco. It is important to inform family members and guests about this precaution as well.

Also keep in mind to stay five feet away from sources of heat, such as candles, lighted fireplaces, stoves, or electric or gas heaters. Keep away from flammable products, and avoid products that contain oil, petroleum, or grease. It is best to have a fire extinguisher prepared and to inform your fire department that you have oxygen inside your home.

How Can Oxygen Therapy Benefit You?

Aside from particular lung and breathing conditions, your doctor can prescribe oxygen therapy if you frequently suffer from low oxygen levels. After all, supplemental oxygen provides a lot of benefits to the individuals who need it, allowing them to be more active in their daily lives by decreasing shortness of breath. While it may not completely eliminate one’s breathing condition, oxygen therapy can help many patients with lung disease to feel less breathless each day.

Individuals who get enough oxygen are also less fatigued and more energized. Oxygen therapy greatly helps provide and circulate oxygen into the bloodstream and improve one’s overall energy levels.

Another benefit that you can gain from supplemental oxygen is getting a good night’s sleep. People with lung disease often find it difficult to get a restful sleep since they typically lose oxygen in their blood, which can happen during REM sleep. With oxygen therapy, patients are provided with more oxygen entering the bloodstream, helping them to sleep better at night.

Oxygen therapy has helped a lot of people to regain their quality of life. It is best to consult with your doctor first to make sure that it is the right treatment for you.

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