About Oxygen Therapy Treatment of Asthma
Asthma is a disease that causes the tubes within the lungs to constrict or narrow, making it difficult for patients to take full breaths. Depending on the severity of the asthma, doctors may prescribe a variety of treatments, including oxygen therapy.
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Significance
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Oxygen therapy is typically used to treat moderate, severe and extreme cases of asthma. To determine whether or not a patient requires oxygen therapy, physicians perform oximetry, a process that involves placing a tape probe onto a fingertip or earlobe in order to measure the oxygen levels of blood.
Function
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Oxygen therapy involves attaching a source of oxygen to specialized tubes. At the end of the tubes can be a nasal prong or face mask that the patient wears. Breathing the oxygen through the apparatus increases the supply of oxygen to the body of the asthmatic patient.
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Types
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There are three types of supplies for oxygen therapy treatment of asthmatics. The first two are liquid or compressed oxygen tanks, while the third is a large apparatus called an oxygen concentrator that provides a higher concentration of oxygen than tank-based methods.
Benefits
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Asthmatics who receive oxygen therapy experience a variety of benefits, including better sleep, increased alertness and more stamina. In emergency attacks, it also prevents any damage to the heart.
Warning
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Using too much oxygen or using oxygen therapy for too long can be toxic to all patients, including asthmatics. Because of this, patients should obtain a prescription from a doctor prior to beginning oxygen therapy for asthma.
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