Oxygen Therapy for Pneumonia Treatment | Key Facts To Know

livewell
January 7, 2025
Noah Bennett

Introduction

Pneumonia is a viral, bacterial, or fungal disease that affects the lungs’ air sacs (alveoli). It causes fever, cough, shortness of breath, and respiratory-related symptoms. Moreover, pneumonia can affect one or both lungs, and the symptoms may vary depending on its severity. There are several methods to treat this infection depending on the severity of the disease.

Oxygen therapy for pneumonia treatment is the most effective for people with pneumonia. This system works by providing pure oxygen to pneumonia patients who are in dire need of additional oxygen. The main types of oxygen therapy are compressed gas, liquid oxygen, and oxygen concentrators. The delivery methods of this system are nasal prongs, breathing tubes, or masks.

Oxygen Therapy - Definition

Oxygen therapy is required for people with low blood oxygen levels or those having trouble breathing. This therapy involves higher-than-normal oxygen administration to improve the oxygen level in the body. This is because a lower oxygen level negatively impacts all major organs and tissues of the body.

Furthermore, patients with pneumonia suffer from inflammation and fluid buildup in the lungs, making it difficult to get the required oxygen. Consequently, for these patients, oxygen therapy compensates for the impaired lung function through supplemental oxygen. Several procedures are effective for delivering oxygen therapy to patients, such as face masks and high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy. However, in severe cases, mechanical ventilation becomes a necessity.

Types of Oxygen Therapy for Pneumonia Patients

Oxygen therapy is a vital part of the pneumonia treatment procedure. It improves the medical condition of patients and reduces complexities during the disease. This treatment ensures the proper functioning of all vital organs by providing necessary oxygen to the body. The following are the main types of oxygen therapy for pneumonia patients.

Compressed Gas

The process involves using a large, metal cylinder that contains 100% oxygen. It comes with a regulator to control the flow of oxygen and works in a controlled manner. The compressed gas procedure sends oxygen when you inhale and stops the flow when you exhale.

Liquid Oxygen

In this procedure, a container stores oxygen as a cold liquid. It converts to gas when you release the oxygen. Small containers are also available that are usable outside the home.

Oxygen Concentrators

This is the most modern system that doesn’t need already available oxygen. An electric or battery-powered device extracts air from the room. In the second stage, it stores oxygen, removes nitrogen, and lets you breathe purified oxygen.

Oxygen Therapy Benefits for Pneumonia Treatment

Oxygen therapy provides several benefits to pneumonia patients by improving oxygen levels. There are short-term and long-term benefits of oxygen therapy for pneumonia patients, including, but not limited to, the following:

Improving Oxygen Levels

Low oxygen levels in the blood can cause organ failure and impair its ability to keep functioning. Raising the oxygen level in the body is the primary function of oxygen therapy, which prevents oxygen deprivation. Hence, also providing respiratory support for pneumonia patients.

Reduces Pressure on the Heart

When blood becomes deficient in oxygen, the load on the heart increases. In this scenario, the heart needs to pump harder to provide blood to all body parts. This condition is common in people with heart conditions. Oxygen therapy helps reduce strain on the heart.

Increases Healing Rate

Oxygen therapy may not treat pneumonia alone. Depending on the cause of the disease, patients usually require pneumonia antibiotics, antiviral, or antifungal medications. However, oxygen therapy improves the effectiveness of these drugs and enhances the chances of recovery and cure. It assists in quick healing by repairing damaged lung tissues and improving the body’s immune system.

Increases Healing Rate

Patients suffering from pneumonia usually have difficulty breathing due to inflammation and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs). Oxygen therapy reduces the severity of this condition by providing additional oxygen to the body and lungs.

In extreme cases, oxygen therapy in respiratory failure assists patients in breathing comfortably and reduces the symptoms of breathlessness. During this process, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) keeps your airways open through mild air pressure.

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When to Use Oxygen Therapy for Pneumonia Treatment

Oxygen therapy is required for pneumonia patients with severe respiratory conditions. Some of these are:

Low Oxygen Saturation

Normal oxygen levels are 95-100% in the blood, which is known as oxygen saturation. If these levels fall below 90%, doctors usually prescribe oxygen therapy for pneumonia patients. A pulse oximeter is the main device that measures oxygen saturation levels in the blood. Using this device can provide the exact time to use oxygen therapy for pneumonia treatment.

Oxygen Deprivation

Wheezing, breathlessness, difficulty in breathing, and similar conditions indicate severe shortness of breath in pneumonia patients. The patients fail to get necessary oxygen during these symptoms and require supplemental oxygen to fulfill their oxygen requirement.

Complicated Pneumonia

There are certain conditions that highlight the severity of pneumonia. Bacterial pneumonia and pleural effusion (fluid in the pleural space of the lungs) are among these stages. Oxygen therapy becomes a necessity in these circumstances to prevent further complications and improve chances of rapid recovery.

Additional Medical Conditions

Oxygen therapy for pneumonia treatment also becomes mandatory when a patient suffers from some other medical conditions. It is particularly important for those suffering from chronic conditions, such as heart disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma, etc. Administering oxygen therapy to these patients can reduce the complexity that may happen due to the effects of these chronic conditions.

Conclusion

Oxygen therapy for pneumonia is one of the most plays a vital role in treating pneumonia. It is particularly important for patients with breathlessness, chronic illnesses, and other conditions that aggravate symptoms of pneumonia. Oxygen therapy or supplemental oxygen provides several benefits to pneumonia patients. These include improvement in oxygen levels, reducing strain on the heart, and reducing breathing problems. Oxygen therapy is particularly important for pneumonia patients with low oxygen saturation, chronic conditions, and other complications.

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FAQ

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When should you not give oxygen therapy?

Oxygen therapy is not recommended during some conditions. It is not suitable for patients with hyperventilation, oxygen saturation higher than 92%, acid aspiration, etc.

How much oxygen do you give a patient with pneumonia?

Patients with pneumonia need oxygen according to the severity of their health condition. Aim for an oxygen saturation level of 94-98%. The recommended initial oxygen level for patients is 2.6 l/m via nasal cannulae or 5-10 l/m via facemask. It also depends on age, oxygen requirement, and oxygen saturation level.

Does oxygen therapy help with pneumonia?

Oxygen therapy is an effective treatment for pneumonia due to its positive effects on the disease. It helps manage pneumonia symptoms, boosts the immune system, and reduces the workload on the lungs and the heart.