Can long-term oxygen therapy improve lung function?
Mar 28, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Guo Xiheng
Introduction
If the body experiences discomfort, such as chronic bronchitis or asthma, prolonged oxygen inhalation usually helps increase blood oxygen saturation and oxygen levels, reduce stress on the lungs, and generally improve lung function. However, if a person is relatively healthy and has no underlying medical conditions, they are unlikely to benefit from oxygen therapy and may instead experience side effects such as nasal dryness or nosebleeds due to excessive oxygen intake.
Whether long-term oxygen therapy can improve lung function generally depends on individual circumstances. The detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Yes
If a person experiences discomfort due to conditions such as chronic bronchitis or asthma, prolonged oxygen inhalation usually helps increase blood oxygen saturation and oxygen levels, reduce stress on the lungs, and promote metabolism, thereby alleviating symptoms. In such cases, long-term oxygen therapy may help improve lung function.
2. No
If a person is in good health without any underlying medical conditions, long-term oxygen therapy is generally unnecessary. It is unlikely to provide benefits and may even cause side effects such as nasal dryness and nosebleeds due to excessive oxygen intake.
When receiving oxygen therapy, care should be taken to avoid excessively high concentrations to prevent oxygen toxicity.
