Oxygen Therapy

Advanced Treatment at Washington Township Medical Foundation

Oxygen therapy is a form of treatment that may be utilized by patients with certain conditions that affect their blood oxygen levels, including those with pulmonary disease. This treatment provides patients with supplemental oxygen. Typically, oxygen therapy utilizes a facemask, nasal prongs, or tubes threaded into the trachea or windpipe. Oxygen is stored in a tank as either a gas or liquid. Patients may receive oxygen therapy for a long or short period of time, and in a variety of settings, including home or a hospital. Patients who need consistent oxygen therapy may require a portable oxygen tank / machine for home use. Ask your doctor at Washington Township Medical Foundation if you have questions about oxygen therapy.

Who Is Oxygen Therapy For?

Also called oxygen or supplemental oxygen, oxygen therapy is prescribed in cases where patients suffer from conditions that cause their blood oxygen levels to be low. Over time, low blood oxygen can cause serious damage.

Symptoms of low blood oxygen include:

• Shortness of breath
• Confusion / disorientation
• Fatigue

Some conditions that may require a patient to receive supplemental oxygen include:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Severe asthma
• Late-stage cardiac failure
• Cystic fibrosis
• Sleep apnea
• Pneumonia