The Purpose Of The Treatment Form Oxygen Therapy

The treatment form oxygen therapy is a prescribed treatment that consists of administering oxygen in high concentrations. In that sense, the purpose is to treat hypoxia or lack of oxygen in the blood and tissues. In addition, it is mainly used by experts to treat chronic respiratory failure.

In recent years, however, it has also been used successfully in the world of cosmetics.

What is the treatment form oxygen therapy?

Oxygen therapy helps to increase the supply of oxygen to the tissue. For this purpose, it maximizes the carrying capacity of hemoglobin. It also relieves certain ailments and diseases such as chronic bronchitis or COPD. It is also a good solution for hypoventilation related to obesity and severe asthma.

Today, this type of therapy is even used for aesthetic treatments, especially for dry, oily, tired or wrinkled skin. It also gives good results in terms of reducing dark circles under the eyes and skin damage. In the world of cosmetics, oxygen provides the moisture that the skin needs.

It also stimulates collagen production and helps the skin look more youthful. To understand how this works, however, it is important to first know a little more about oxygen therapy.

Variants of the treatment form oxygen therapy

The use of oxygen therapy is important for the treatment of respiratory failure, which is when medical professionals prescribe oxygen as a method of treatment. The most commonly used variants of this type of therapy are:

Normobaric oxygen therapy

Normobaric oxygen therapy administers oxygen at various concentrations. This is usually done in a concentration between 21 and 100%. One of the most common options is nasal catheters or masks.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

This type of oxygen treatment consists of delivering 100% oxygen. In hyperbaric oxygen therapy , the patient is inside a pressure chamber. A helmet or mask is used for treatment.

The goal of this therapy is to increase the supply of oxygen to the tissue through hemoglobin. As a result of a lot of oxygen entering the body , the pressure in the alveoli will increase, causing a hemoglobin saturation. Therefore, the alveolar oxygen pressure increases and the work of the heart and lungs decreases. The body can thus maintain a constant oxygen pressure.

Possible complications from the treatment form oxygen therapy

As with any treatment, oxygen therapy can have complications. These usually occur due to an insufficient oxygen concentration. However, they can also be due to excessive treatment time.

Symptoms that may occur include:

• Tracheitis and bronchitis.
• Decreased mucus clearance.
• Acute lung injury.
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

As a result of inhaling the cold and dry mixture of gases, the patient may also suffer from dryness of the mucous membranes and tears. In addition, the patient may suffer from decreased mucociliary transport, sputum retention and increased sputum density.

Administration routes

When patients breathe spontaneously, the treatment can be used with nasal catheters and masks. These are some of the masks used:

• Venturi mask. A venturi mask delivers the exact oxygen concentration. During administration, the patient can neither eat nor talk. The patient may also experience a feeling of warmth as well as suffering from skin irritations.
• Ordinary mask. A soft plastic unit that covers the mouth and nose. It has side openings that allow the breath to escape. You must position it correctly with an elastic band to prevent leakage.

The low-flow system is another mode of administration. This system is suitable for people who need minimal oxygen. The high-flow system and the hyperbaric chamber can also be used. However, patients who are unable to breathe on their own  must be treated with a mechanical ventilator.

Conclusion

Although this type of therapy is a prescribed treatment, it is important to remember that it is not just used to solve health problems. Today it is even used in some beauty treatments.