Oxygen Therapy | Benefits of Oxygen Therapy - Philips Healthcare@home Services

Benefits of Oxygen Therapy

Published on September 1, 2016

If you are suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and it has reached an advanced (severe) stage, then it is likely that your doctor would prescribe you oxygen therapy. It is one of the most common treatments for COPD when the oxygen level in your blood drops to dangerously low. Even if your COPD isn’t too severe, your doctor may still insist for oxygen therapy in case you have other conditions that might deteriorate due to low oxygen level in your blood.

There are multiple ways to administer induced oxygen that can help you breathe better. These options include the use of oxygen gas cylinders, oxygen concentrators or liquid oxygen devices. Usually, these oxygen supplying machines are connected to a flexible tube with two-pronged endings that goes into both nasals, or it will have a mask.

The duration for which you are required to use oxygen devices will depend on your COPD condition and activities you do. You can benefit from using oxygen therapy during your sleep, exercise or while doing other activities. Using oxygen therapy may have some side effects in people such as reduced sense of taste, smell or both. However, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks by manifold.

Oxygen administration devices come in all sizes and shapes depending on the usage. Mobile units are also available to enable mobility of users. They also come with a backup battery for usages away from the power supply or in the case of power failure.

There are some precautions that need to be kept in mind before using oxygen dispensing devices. Since oxygen is an oxidizer that can instantly burn anything that is flammable in nature – when it comes in contact with a flame – cigarettes and other sources of fire must be kept away.

The Key Benefits of Oxygen Therapy

There are numerous advantages of using oxygen therapy. It can drastically improve your overall health by improving the health of your blood with a good amount of oxygen supply. One of the biggest hits taken by COPD patients is the decreased physical activity due to difficulty in breathing. Even a small amount of work could tire you out easily. Oxygen therapy takes care of this by pumping oxygen into your body so you can continue to lead an active lifestyle. Another major advantage of oxygen therapy is the overall improvement you will notice in your sleep quality. Lack of good sleep affects a person’s health. Oxygen therapy also improves your mental function and overall health.

The blood oxygen level in some COPD patients drop during exercise, and the availability of oxygen in an airplane at high altitudes is also less. In such scenarios, an oxygen device can be your lifesaver. If your COPD condition is holding you back from leading a normal life, oxygen therapy is what you are likely to be recommended. It increases your survival and overall quality of life. There are many other indirect benefits such as improved social life, greater mobility including long-distance travel, increased tolerance to physically-demanding activities like exercise, and reduced symptoms associated with COPD.

References

McIvor RA, et al. (2011). COPD, search date April 2010. Online version of BMJ Clinical Evidence: http://www.clinicalevidence.com
Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (2014). Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/copd/oxygen-therapy-for-copd.aspx
http://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/oxygen-treatment-for-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd

http://www.webmd.com/beauty/skin/beauty-sleep

http://www.livestrong.com/article/454988-how-well-does-coffee-work-to-keep-you-awake

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/between-you-and-me/201308/all-night-the-effects-sleep-loss-mood

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/lifestyle-change-better-sex

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/lifestyle-change-better-sex?page=3

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/excessive-sleepiness-10/10-results-sleep-loss?page=2

McIvor RA, et al. (2011). COPD, search date April 2010. Online version of BMJ Clinical Evidence: http://www.clinical evidence.com

Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (2014). Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. http://www.goldcopd.org/guidelines-global-strategy-for-diagnosis-management.html Accessed May 21, 2014.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/copd/oxygen-therapy-for-copd.aspx

http://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/oxygen-treatment-for-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd

McIvor RA, et al. (2011). COPD, search date April 2010. Online version of BMJ Clinical Evidence: http://www.clinical evidence.com

http://www.everydayhealth.com/copd/oxygen-therapy-for-copd.aspx

http://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/oxygen-treatment-for-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd

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