Different Oxygen Therapies

Medical practitioners have devised several therapies utilizing oxygen for the heath benefits of individuals. This treatment is performed by way of administering oxygen, usually in much greater concentrations than the amount of air in a room. It is given by the use of masks, tents or nasal cannulas.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

• One form of oxygen therapy is the hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). The patient breathes pure oxygen in pressurized chambers. By doing so, the body's tissues easily absorb oxygen. This form of therapy helps fight infection by activating white blood cells. It enhances the benefits of various antibiotics and encourages the course of healing in constant or chronic wounds. There are no associated side effects to this therapy, as oxygen is already an integral part of our lives.

Acute Oxygen Therapy

• To treat hypoxemia, an oxygen prescription is given to the patient through acute oxygen therapy. It is administered through noninvasive ventilation or by way of respiratory stimulants. Various hospitals offer patients this form of therapy in small increments.

Long-Term Oxygen Therapy

• Those with complications such as severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often advised to undergo long-term oxygen therapy to correct chronic hypoxemia. Chronic hypoxemia is a condition that shortly results to reactive pulmonary hypertension and limitation of cardiac output. The therapy aims to decelerate such complications and lengthen the survival rate of the patient. This form of therapy is often administered in the individual's home, where a domiciliary oxygen concentrator is set up.

Short-Burst Therapy

• This therapy type is designed to relieve shortness of breath, is administered for approximately ten to twenty minutes and usually takes place in the patient's home. Cylinders are commonly used to provide oxygen. This treatment option is typically provided patients who do not meet the criteria to have long-term oxygen therapy, but still become breathless after minimal exertion.

Ambulatory Oxygen Therapy

• Ambulatory oxygen therapy is when a patient carries the oxygen in the form of a lightweight cylinder---also known as an oxygen tank and is used simultaneously with exercise. The main objective of this therapy is to increase the tolerance for the brunt of effort during exercise and reduce breathlessness. This treatment is not administered to correct chronic hypoxemia. Specialists may allow an increasing amount of oxygen use to patients whose condition is considerably worse.