Dangers of Oxygen Toxicity in COPD Patients

What Are the Dangers of Oxygen Toxicity in COPD Patients? 

While supplemental oxygen and oxygen concentrators are helpful for people with COPD and other breathing problems, some issues could arise from misusing this kind of equipment. One of the most common ways someone might potentially harm themselves by using oxygen concentrators by experiencing oxygen toxicity. Oxygen toxicity, also known as oxygen poisoning, is one of the significant risks that people who need assistance from breathing equipment run when they undergo their treatment. Since O2 Assist is dedicated to our customer’s safety, we have written the following article to detail the dangers of oxygen toxicity in COPD patients. Continue reading below to learn more. 

How Can Oxygen Be Toxic? 

When someone inhales a normal amount of oxygen, it enters the lungs and flows to the bloodstream. Like anything, if there is an excess of oxygen in the bloodstream, some complications could arise. An excess of oxygen could cause lung issues, which could lead to a collapsed lung, this would later make it harder for your lungs to transport oxygen to your body. Oxygen toxicity could come as a result of using a scuba tank or oxygen concentrator machine. 

What Are the Signs of an Oxygen Overdose? 

There are many tell-tale signs of oxygen toxicity in COPD patients. A detailed list of the most common ones are detailed below: 

  • Coughing
  • Throat irritation
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing 
  • Muscle twitching
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Nausea
  • Anxiety
  • Confusion
  • Seizures 

The most common way to prevent an oxygen overdose is by lowering the amount of external oxygen that your body is receiving. It is imperative to continuously monitor the settings on your oxygen machines so that you are not consuming them excessively. If you believe that you are undergoing an oxygen overdose, it is crucial to contact a medical professional immediately. 

More About O2 Assist

Along with detailing the dangers of oxygen toxicity in COPD patients, O2 Assist is a provider of oxygen concentrators that is dedicated to providing people that need help from external sources of oxygen. We welcome you to view our selection of portable oxygen concentrators for sale and home oxygen concentrators for sale so you can find the best oxygen concentrator for you. We have a wide selection of used oxygen concentrators, used portable oxygen concentrators, small oxygen concentrators, and travel oxygen concentrators. Contact us today to learn more. 


Related Readings 

Is Having COPD Painful?

Home Oxygen Therapy for Beginners