Food additives Europe numbers: E948
Oxygen is an element with the chemical symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that makes up about 21 percent of the Earth's atmosphere. Oxygen is one of the most abundant elements in the universe and is essential to the survival of all living things. It is found in the air we breathe and is used by cells in the body to create energy. Oxygen is also used in many industrial processes, such as welding and metal fabrication. Oxygen is used in medicine to treat a variety of medical conditions. Oxygen therapy is used to treat conditions such as hypoxemia, which is a low blood oxygen level, and to help people with respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Oxygen therapy is also used to help treat shock, heart failure, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other medical conditions. In some cases, oxygen may be used to help boost the effects of medications that are used to treat these conditions. Oxygen can also be used for emergency resuscitation.
Oxygen, the element with the symbol O, is absolutely crucial for human life. It's a gas that makes up about 21% of the air we breathe. In medicine, oxygen refers to high-purity oxygen delivered to patients who have difficulty getting enough oxygen from the air on their own.
Here's what medical oxygen does:
- Increases blood oxygen levels: This is the main benefit. Oxygen therapy helps your blood absorb more oxygen, which gets delivered to your organs and cells.
- Supports cellular function: Every cell in your body needs oxygen to function properly and produce energy.
- Eases breathing problems: In conditions like pneumonia or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), oxygen therapy helps reduce shortness of breath and makes breathing easier.
Medical oxygen comes in different forms depending on the needs of the patient:
- Compressed gas: This is the most common form, delivered through a nasal cannula (tubes that fit in the nostrils) or a mask.
- Liquid oxygen: This is stored as a liquid and converted to gas before use. It's typically used in hospitals for long-term oxygen therapy.