Oxygen Therapy is the administration of oxygen as a restorative or therapeutic process. Oxygen Therapy can be administered in both acute and chronic cases, it increases the body's supply of oxygen. The subject of oxygen therapy is strongly debated as there are many pro's and con's to support the benefits and damages that oxygen therapy can provide.
Pros
The prevalence of lung disease ranks as the number three killer in America. Many of these diseases include asthma, sarcoidosis, pulmonary hypertension, influenza and pulmonary fibrosis. These diseases in their later stages are treated with oxygen therapy. normal blood saturation levels are 95-97%. When an individuals levels fall below the 90% level , the physician will prescribe oxygen therapy. Oxygen in the form of gas cylinders doesn't expel any heat into the environment, the cylinders are portable, and do not require electricity. This form of oxygen can be very beneficial to the patient, who needs to be mobile, they can carry their portable oxygen concentrator cylinder with them without the worry of and electrical outlet to plug it into.
Cons
There are also drawbacks to using gas cylinder oxygen that should be explored. The contents in the cylinder are under pressure, and if it is dropped or falls, could cause damage to people and property, as the cylinder could potentially explode. Small tanks can only carry a minimal amount of content, and leave you without enough oxygen if you plan to be out for long periods of time. This could be an inconvenience if you can't back home before it runs out. Large tanks are for stationary use only, because they are heavy and cumbersome. If you don't have smaller tanks, you don't have the mobility to leave the home, for even the smallest errands. Large tanks also take up space in your home, depending on the size of your room.
Types
There are many types of oxygen therapy available to patients for home care. Your physician will prescribe the oxygen that best your needs. The various types of oxygen could include an oxygen that releases vapors, a gas oxygen, or a concentration oxygen. All of the oxygen therapies has pro's and con's, again your physician will choose the best therapy possible for you, the in home patient.
Oxygen therapy has its good, and not so good points. The point is millions of people are using it, and will continue to use it. More research has to be done to reduce the hazards of oxygen therapy, because it is not without some risk or hazard. In most cases the pro's outweigh the con's. Again the key to it all is what is good for the individual patient, this is the deciding factor. Your oxygen therapy can be prescribed to fit your needs.
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