Oxygen: The Life-Saving Gas for Respiratory Disorders
What is Oxygen?
Oxygen is an essential gas that is used in medical treatments for respiratory disorders. It is administered to individuals who have low oxygen levels in their blood due to conditions such as COPD, asthma, pneumonia, and heart failure.
How Oxygen Works
Oxygen is required by every cell in the body to function properly. It helps the body produce energy through aerobic respiration and is essential for brain and organ function. Oxygen therapy increases the amount of oxygen available to the body’s tissues.
When to Use Oxygen
● Respiratory Disorders: Oxygen is used in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumonia, and pulmonary edema.
● Emergency Care: It is used in emergency situations such as heart failure, shock, and cardiac arrest to stabilize oxygen levels.
Dosage
● Adult Dose: Oxygen is usually administered via nasal cannula, mask, or mechanical ventilation, depending on the severity of oxygen deprivation.
● Pediatric Dose: Oxygen is delivered via a face mask or nasal cannula at a flow rate of 1-2 L/min in infants or as prescribed by a doctor.
Side Effects
● Common Effects: Dry mouth, nasal irritation, and headache.
● Serious Adverse Effects: Prolonged use of high concentrations of oxygen can lead to oxygen toxicity, lung damage, and retinopathy of prematurity in newborns.