One way of highlighting the importance of oxygen would be to quickly outline what our bodies need to stay alive and more interestingly how long we can survive in their absence This list would have the following:
- Food – You can last a few weeks without any food before dying.
- Water – A few days
- Oxygen – A few minutes.
In each of these cases severe bodily damage occurs before death creeps in and this means that in the case of oxygen there is precious little time available before irreparable damage is caused. Oxygen occurs in a natural state in our environment mixed in the air we breathe. At sea level and in the absence of pollution, oxygen represents approximately 21% of the air around us.When our respiratory system is working properly this amount of oxygen is perfect for our health and oxygen requirements. There are however many cases where chronic lung damage is present and a shortage of oxygen intake happens, causing insufficient oxygen saturation. There are various potential causes for this, the most common one is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which in turn is caused mainly by smoking. In these cases long term oxygen is prescribed. (Note: The Federal Drug Administration classifies oxygen as a drug and it must therefore be prescribed).
It is a long term therapy because supplemental oxygen will have to be supplied from that time onwards – it is a “forever” scenario.
The oxygen is delivered directly to the patient through a nose cannula or oxygen mask at a prescribed flow rate and in a much purer form. When COPD is present the lungs have been damaged so the inhalation process brings insufficient oxygen – and the exhalation process does not clear out all the air. Imagine a glass that holds a pint of water, but you can never pour in a full pint as it already has half a pint. You can only drink half of what is there – and yet you need a full pint to quench your thirst. Something similar to this happens with the air and the lungs, and the result is insufficient oxygen saturating the blood.
The way to increase oxygen blood saturation is by supplying an increased amount of oxygen – so instead of 21% pure oxygen in the air that is breathed in, concentrated oxygen at 90% plus is given. Some patients are prescribed with oxygen on a 24 hour basis and others for shorter periods depending on the diagnosis.