Are There Any Side Effects of Oxygen Therapy? : The Facts You Need to Know

by EWOT Team Member January 21, 2021

A healthy person needs to have a blood oxygen level between 95-100% to function normally. If this drops below 92%, Oxygen Therapy is usually necessary. But it's good to know the side effects of Oxygen Therapy before you begin.

Several other medical conditions can cause your blood oxygen to be too low, which could make you feel tired, short of breath, or even confused. Not only this but having low oxygen (hypoxia) can actually damage your body. Oxygen Therapy can help bring your level back up to 95-100% so you can be your sharp, energetic self again!

What are the possible side effects of Oxygen Therapy? We explain the facts you need to know to be confident about choosing EWOT (Exercise with Oxygen Therapy).

What Is Oxygen Therapy?

The treatment, known as Oxygen Therapy, basically gives you the extra oxygen you need to breathe normally. It's also known as supplemental oxygen.

Oxygen Concentrator

Oxygen concentrators vary from 5LPM to 10LPM. An oxygen concentrator extracts oxygen from the surrounding air.

Devices will deliver the oxygen through a mask. You will breathe the supplemental oxygen with the surrounding air.

There are versions that can work along with exercise machines to help healthy people increase athletic performance and more (as mentioned above).

Which Conditions Require Oxygen Therapy?

Any condition that causes low blood oxygen would call for Oxygen Therapy. These include:

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
COVID-19
Sleep apnea
Pneumonia
Cystic fibrosis
Late-stage heart failure
A severe asthma attack

Healthy individuals can use certain types of Oxygen Therapy to increase metabolism, memory, improved immune system function, faster recovery from stress-related illnesses, and improve athletic performance.

Possible Side Effects of Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen Therapy is very safe if used properly.

Serious Side Effects

One serious side effect would occur if your levels were turned up too high. It's a life-threatening condition called oxygen toxicity. Never adjust the oxygen level without the supervision of a doctor or medical professional.

A patient should see their medical professional if they have any of these problems while taking Oxygen Therapy because they could indicate levels are too low:

Increased anxiety or confusion
Wheezing or difficulty breathing
Fever or increase in mucus production
Blue fingertips or lips, which may indicate low blood oxygen

Never smoke around an Oxygen Therapy device. This could cause a fire immediately.

Stay Safe

Whether you are about to start this therapy for your medical condition or are considering it for biohacking, remember to stay safe!

Just make sure you follow your doctor's orders and remember not to smoke around your device. This therapy is wonderful for extending lifespans in patients, as long as it's done right.