What is Oxygen?

Oxygen is a natural gas that is found in the atmosphere. It makes up approximately 21% of the inspired air that we breathe (with nitrogen taking up the other 79%). We breathe in oxygen, it then travels to the depths of our lungs, where it is then absorbed into the bloodstream and travels to the heart. Once it arrives in the heart, it is pumped throughout the entire body, where it delivers oxygen to all muscle tissues and vital organs. There are certain conditions that may arise where the lungs become damaged (such as smoking or pulmonary disease), this affects the ability the lungs have to absorb oxygen into the bloodstream, and additional oxygen is then required to maintain normal body function.

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How does Oxygen Therapy work?

Supplemental O2 delivery works by administering oxygen gas into the nose and/or mouth by way of different devices. Here are some examples:

The nasal cannula works by connecting the wire and nasal prongs to an oxygen gas source, the individual breaths in primarily through their nose which then increases oxygen levels in the body. It gives about 28% to 40% of oxygen.

The simple mask works by covering the nose and mouth with a light weight, plastic mask with two holes on the sides for exhalation. It is used when a higher concentration of oxygen is required. It administers around 50% of oxygen.

The non-rebreather mask is considered the highest form of oxygen that can be given through these devices. It has a reservoir bag which is to be fully inflated with good flow when the device is on an individual. It is used for emergency situations where someone has very low oxygen levels. It provides 60%-80% oxygen (this amount fluctuates depending on how well the mask is sealed on an individuals face.)

The venti-mask is used for supplying individuals with a very specific amount of oxygen. These patients require a level of oxygen that does not fluctuate and is very precise. This device allows you to dial in a level of oxygen from 21% to 50%.

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Who can benefit from Oxygen Therapy?

Primarily, patients in the hospital setting can benefit from oxygen therapy. The three main reasons oxygen therapy is administered is to 1) increase oxygen levels when they fall below 90% of saturation (as measured by a pulse oximeter), 2) to decrease myocardial workload (if the heart is having to increase its rate to compensate for low oxygen levels in the bloodstream) and 3) to decrease work of breathing.

For a further understanding of what kind of patients can fall under these 3 categories, refer to this list as a reference:

• Patients who just came out of surgery: they require additional assistance with their breathing because the pain from surgery causes people to take shallow breathes. Shallow breathing can lead to a drop in oxygen levels, so to assist in maintaining good oxygen levels, a small amount of supplemental oxygen can be administered.

• Patients who have asthma: Asthma causes airway constriction, which leaves less surface area for oxygen to travel before it reaches the heart. This is similar to an "airway traffic jam" and can be remedied by providing oxygen (along with inhalers).

• Patients who are elderly and have shortness of breath on exertion: Oxygen levels naturally go down slightly with age, and overexertion can increase work of breathing. This is a good time to administer oxygen therapy to reduce their work of breathing.

• Patients who have sleep apnea: Sleep apnea is a condition that causes a complete cessation of airflow during the night. While a decrease in oxygen levels while sleeping is actually normal, this particular patient group require additional devices to sleep easy at night (including positive pressure ventilation from CPAPs). Oxygen is also useful here, as it will compensate for the natural drop that occurs during the night.

• Patients with long term pulmonary disease: Individuals who have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) may be oxygen dependent for life. Their lungs are damaged to the point where receiving oxygen on a regular basis is the only way they can maintain their activities of daily living.

In addition, oxygen therapy can also be administered and self administered in the home setting to individuals who have long term breathing issues. This includes COPD, certain heart conditions, severe persistent asthma, or other rare lung conditions.

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How can one be screened or monitored to test their oxygen levels?

The primary way to screen oxygen levels in an individual is to use a pulse oximeter. These devices are small, painless, and require placing the probe on a finger to get a reading. If the individual has nail polish, are in areas of bright lights, or have cold hands, it is possible that the reading will be erroneous. Pulse oximeters are sold online at various retailers from $40 to $100. If one ins't within reach, checking someones color (to see if it turns slightly blue), level of consciousnesses (looking for a decreased sensorium) and breathing rate (which should be 12-20 breaths per minute) can be good ways to assess the need for oxygen therapy.

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Project Questions:

Who is the target audience?

The target audience are individuals who have a history of pulmonary disease brought on from smoking. This includes diseases that make up COPD (chronic bronchitis, emphysema, etc).

What content is being taught?

The content that is being taught is primarily oxygen therapy. This blog details what it is, how it is used, who benefits from it, as well as its limitations. Once it is properly understood by the reader, they can be able to use it with confidence to help their specific conditions improve.

What are the benefits and disadvantages of the chosen medium?

The benefits of this chosen medium is that it has a solid amount of accurate information free of charge. All the individual would need is an internet connection and they are able to access this information to help them understand oxygen therapy.

The disadvantage to this medium is that blogs are still not fully understood. Websites and the internet are well understood for the most part this day and age, but blogs are considered to be "journals and diaries" online. Also, they would have to subscribe to the channel to get further posts and new information on the use of oxygen therapy. Next, without an internet connection, it isn't possible to view the information. The only way to have access to the information outside a computer is to reach the URL, then print out pages from the blog to view it at a different time.

References:

(APA 6th)

American Thoracic Society.Why Do I Need Oxygen Therapy? Retrieved 3/14, 2014, from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/oxt/

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is Oxygen Therapy? http://www.thoracic.org/clinical/copd-guidelines/for-patients/why-do-i-need-oxygen-therapy.php

American Lung Association. Supplemental Oxygen. Retrieved 3/14, 2014, from http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/copd/living-with-copd/supplemental-oxygen.html