Introduction
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy Sydney Australia is a form of treatment that utilizes 100% oxygen to help treat various conditions and injuries. The use of this therapy has been around for over a hundred years, but it’s still one of the most effective treatments when properly administered by a trained professional. Oxygen can help with everything from mild respiratory problems such as the common cold or flu, to severe conditions like sleep apnea or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This article will discuss what oxygen therapy is and how it works, as well as its benefits and side effects—plus how you can qualify for this type of treatment if needed!
What Is Oxygen Therapy?
Oxygen therapy is the use of oxygen to help treat a medical condition. Oxygen therapy is used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
- Respiratory disorders
- Diseases of the heart and blood vessels
Oxygen therapy can be given in different ways, including through an oxygen concentrator and by inhaling it through a mask or nasal cannula.
What Are The Benefits Of Oxygen Therapy?
Oxygen therapy is a treatment that uses oxygen to improve the health of the body. Many people use this therapy to treat different conditions, including sleep apnea, blood circulation problems, and breathing issues. Oxygen therapy can also help with pain relief.
The most common way of using oxygen therapy is by inhaling it through a mask that covers your nose and mouth. This type of treatment is called nasal cannula (NC) or nasal prongs (NP). You may also be able to take concentrated oxygen in liquid form through a face mask or mouthpiece instead of just through your nose if you prefer this method over NC/NP.
Types Of Oxygen Therapy
There are three kinds of oxygen therapy: injection, inhalation and insufflation.
- Injection is when an oxygen-rich solution is injected into the body. This approach is used to treat carbon monoxide poisoning or cyanide poisoning by getting more oxygen into the blood. It can also help counteract anemia and other conditions that cause a deficiency in red blood cells, because more red blood cells means there will be more hemoglobin (which carries oxygen) in your system.
- Inhalation is when you breathe from a tank with extra-pure oxygen inside it (called an “oxygen concentrator”). This is most often used for lung diseases like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or asthma. It’s also helpful during recovery from surgery or injury, as well as after exposure to smoke or other noxious chemicals if done right away after exposure happens.* Insufflation is where purer-than-normal air is pumped directly into your lungs through a cannula inserted into your nostrils—it helps those who’ve overdosed on opioids and other drugs by displacing them with fresh air so they can breathe again normally.* Hyperbaric chambers use larger amounts of pressurized air than normal ones do; this gives patients greater access to high concentrations of oxygen while allowing physicians to administer intravenous medications at subatmospheric pressures (below normal atmospheric pressure).
How Does Oxygen Therapy Work?
The human body needs oxygen to survive. Oxygen is a naturally occurring compound that occurs in the air around us, and we breathe it in with every exhale. Without enough of it, we may die within minutes.
Oxygen therapy increases the amount of oxygen you breathe in while wearing an oxygen mask or nasal cannula. This allows your body to receive more than its usual intake of this essential substance, which can help alleviate symptoms associated with low levels of oxygen in the blood (known as hypoxia). The increased supply is then distributed throughout your body via your bloodstream and helps remove waste products from cells faster than they would be able to on their own.
Who May Be Prescribed Oxygen Therapy?
You may be prescribed oxygen therapy if:
- Your condition is severe and requires oxygen.
- You have a chronic condition that requires you to use supplemental oxygen at home.
- You are being treated for a medical emergency, such as heart attack or stroke.
Your doctor will consider many factors when prescribing treatment, including:
- The severity of your condition and whether it will improve with oxygen therapy.
- Your age, overall health and ability to tolerate the treatment (like children).
- Whether you can cooperate with the treatment (like young children).
How Do You Know If You Qualify For Oxygen Therapy?
If you are thinking about using oxygen therapy, it’s important that you speak with your doctor. He or she can advise you on whether or not oxygen therapy is right for your unique situation. If so, they’ll be able to determine what type of equipment will be best for your specific needs as well as how often and for how long you should use it.
In general, if you have any of the following conditions:
- Shortness of breath
- Lung disease (e.g., COPD)
- Heart disease (e.g., angina)
- Emphysema
Then oxygen therapy may be something to discuss with your doctor about further.
What Are Some Potential Side Effects Of Oxygen Therapy?
It is important to keep in mind that oxygen therapy can cause side effects. These may include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting. Nasal congestion and chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath are all possible side effects as well.
How To Manage Portable Oxygen And Tank Refills
If you’re interested in using oxygen therapy, it’s important to understand how the process works. Here are some tips on getting started:
- Get a prescription from your doctor. If you have been prescribed oxygen therapy by your doctor or another medical professional, then it’s time to get the equipment needed for treatment. A prescription will indicate which type of concentrator should be used with specific amounts of flow rates based on what conditions you have been diagnosed with and how severe those conditions are.
- Choose a reliable supplier. If you don’t live near any retail locations where you can easily buy supplies for your home concentrator system, then shop online! There are many reputable companies that sell portable concentrators for patients who do not require hospital-grade equipment but still need some sort of source for delivering pure O2 into their lungs when they sleep at night (and even during other times throughout each day).
Takeaway:
- Oxygen therapy is a safe and effective treatment for a number of conditions. If you have any questions about whether oxygen therapy could be right for your condition, talk to a doctor or healthcare provider.
- While oxygen therapy won’t cure your condition, it may help you manage it by improving the way that your body uses oxygen when breathing.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has helped shed some light on the benefits of oxygen therapy. If you have any questions or concerns about oxygen therapy, please contact your doctor and ask for a referral to a certified respiratory therapist. Check out this guide for oxygen therapy.