We all know what it feels like when we have a cold for just 3-4 days. Imagine how much a person suffers when he has to battle with the most effortless element like breathing life in his daily life. Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects millions of people worldwide making them face difficulty in their daily lives and it’s not a matter of just a period of time. In some cases, it can be minor but in some cases, it can lead to a life-threatening attack including symptoms like difficulty breathing, chest pain, cough, and wheezing. The symptoms may sometimes flare up making the situation even worse, oxygen therapy has come out as a life-saver for all the patients who are battling with their own breath every single day. While this blog helps those people, we will discuss how oxygen therapy is a big relief for all Asthma patients and what are all the things you should know before considering an Oxygen Concentrator for home use.
Understanding Oxygen Therapy
Coughing, Wheezing, Shortness of Breath, and Chest Tightness are some of the common symptoms of Asthma and the situation sometimes can get worse with the intensity of these symptoms. Thus, when your lungs don’t get oxygen enough to breathe comfortably, Oxygen therapy or oxygen treatment is used to provide your lungs with additional oxygen with the help of a face mask or nasal prongs, when the situation goes out of control. It is one of the best treatments that can be done either at the healthcare centre or at your home.
How Does It Work For Asthma?
However, an Oxygen concentrator is not an approach that is followed when the conditions are normal. It is particularly beneficial in severe cases and emergency situations. Let’s know how it works for Asthma in detail: Oxygen treatment is like a supplement of oxygen when the oxygen level of a person drops significantly. It helps in increasing the oxygen content in blood along with body tissues for more energy.
Talking about when we have to approach this solution, it is the best choice when an Asthma patient experiences difficulty breathing when their oxygen saturation level decreases. Oxygen treatment not only helps in relieving symptoms like shortness of breath and chest tightness but also helps in good function of the overall body by maintaining the proper amount of Oxygen.
Applying this treatment, there are various ways, mentioned as follows: Nasal Cannula: a thin tube with prongs is made to fit into the nostrils for continuous oxygen flow.
Oxygen Mask: Covers the nose and mouth, providing higher oxygen concentrations.
Venturi Mask: These masks are perfect when you want precise control of the oxygen flow and concentration.
Monitoring: A pulse oximeter is used to monitor the body's oxygen level. The goal is to maintain oxygen saturation (SpO₂) above 90%.
Levels Of Oxygen Used In Asthma Therapy
Though the focus is on a low level of oxygen in Asthma therapy, it depends on the seriousness of each case and which technique you are using. Following is a draft on how many levels of Oxygen is used in Asthma Therapy:
Low flow of Oxygen: When oxygen is needed in small amounts, various methods like Face Mask, Nasal Cannulas, and Non-rebreather masks are used and the flow of oxygen varies in each of them. A simple face mask supplies an oxygen composition of around 35–55%.
Nasal cannulas: In this method, two tubes are attached to your nostrils to flow oxygen of around 24–40% composition.
Non-rebreather mask: This is a tighter mask than the simple one which prevents the oxygen from getting eliminated outside. When you inhale while wearing a non-rebreather mask, you inhale the excess O2 from the bag but do not have to take in the exhaled air since the mask has a valve to prevent this from occurring. Air delivered through this method usually has a 65–95% oxygen concentration.
Benefits Of Oxygen Treatment For Asthma
● Respiratory support during severe exacerbations: An oxygen concentrator for home use is significantly beneficial for the times when you are experiencing severe Asthma attacks, dramatically decreasing the oxygen level in the blood.
● Improved oxygenation: The more oxygen our body organs get, it becomes easier for our body to function properly. Oxygen treatment helps in maintaining adequate oxygen concentration in the blood.
● Reduced respiratory distress: Oxygen therapy helps you feel relaxed in symptoms like shortness of breath and chest tightness.
Considerations And Risks
● Hyperoxia: While oxygen treatment helps you in better breathing and comfort, the excess intake can result in hyperoxia, which causes respiratory depression and other complications.
● Delayed Recognition of Underlying Issues: As oxygen therapy provides comfort, it can delay recognising underlying and major issues in your health.
● Fire Hazard: As oxygen supports combustion, if not taken care of properly, oxygen can come in contact with flammable substances.
● Oxygen Toxicity: Excessive exposure to oxygen in the long term can damage your lungs due to oxygen toxicity.
What Patients Should Know About Using Oxygen Therapy at Home
Before practising oxygen therapy at home, it is crucial to consult with a healthcare expert. Thus, regular assessments and monitoring are crucial for successful operation.
An oxygen concentrator is a primary device used in this treatment that takes in the room air and removes nitrogen. There are also portable oxygen containers for those in need. The nasal cannula can be used for the long term but masks are designed for minor cases and situations. So, taking care of these things is essential to prevent any negative result.
Conclusion
While Asthma is a severe long-term disease, an Oxygen concentrator is a good option for those who experience severe discomfort and breathing issues. While it is helpful, total dependence on oxygen can prevent you from getting to know about underlying major issues that can be big along with time. While practising oxygen treatment at home, it is important to take care when using an Oxygen Concentrator for home use.