Oxygen therapy is used in a number of clinical and recreational wellness settings for both short- and long-term solutions. Examples of ailments for which oxygen therapy may be prescribed include compression sickness, certain infections and wounds that are slow to heal, according to MayoClinic.com. Like all treatments that alter the body's current environment, oxygen therapy has the potential for adverse effects.
Vision Changes
Oxygen therapy changes blood and cellular surface oxygen levels, which can impact vision. MayoClinic.com notes that hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been associated with nearsightedness as a result of treatment. This is considered to be a temporary adverse effect that should clear up as blood oxygen levels return to normal states.
Middle Ear Damage
Some kinds of oxygen therapy involve specially pressurized oxygen chambers. This can result in damage to the middle ear due to the increased air pressure levels in these oxygen treatment chambers.
Organ Damage
Spending time in oxygen treatment rooms has been linked to organ damage. MayoClinic.com notes that air pressure changes can have an adverse effect on internal organs, a condition formally referred to as barotrauma.
Damage to Respiratory Pathways
The New Zealand Medical Journal reports that oxygen therapy can lead to damage of the respiratory system. This damage can take many forms, including tracheobronchitis, parenchymal lung injury, or bronchopulmonary dysplasia. This type of damage is linked to respiratory system toxicity from the oxygen.
Seizures
Oxygen toxicity can lead to seizures. These types of seizures are known as the Paul-Bert Effect, according to the New Zealand Medical Journal. The seizures are caused by having too much oxygen in the central nervous system, which reacts by sending out signals that lead to seizures.
As a result of the potential for seizures due to blood gas level imbalances, Patient UK recommends regular blood gas level monitoring for patients using oxygen therapy over the long term.
