Why Oxygen?

Oxygen supports life. At sea level the atmosphere is close to 21% oxygen, a condition that has taken an estimated 500,000,000 years to develop. Humans and many other multicellular aerobic organisms have evolved over shorter time periods to function optimally at this modest oxygen level. They have also developed limited abilities to withstand and repair damage caused by excessive oxygen levels. Because oxygen levels vary under different environmental and physiological conditions (high altitude, intrauterine life) adaptation to lower levels also occurs. This adaptation, evidence suggests, is more robust and evolutionarily appropriate than adaptation to high levels of oxygen.

Medical oxygen use dates to the late 18th century. It has come into sustained use since the early to mid 20th century, primarily following extension of anesthesia-type artificial ventilation methods to early intensive care settings. In the medical setting oxygen is used as a drug, primarily to reverse low blood and tissue oxygen levels as measured by oxygen saturation monitors and blood gas samples. A problem arises, however, when oxygen is used empirically or in settings where a documented need for supplemental oxygen does not exist. Though technically oxygen supplementation is prescription-governed, non-physicians often implement oxygen or make oxygen level adjustments without specific instruction. This results in inappropriate medical oxygen use. It is known that excessive or inappropriate oxygen supplementation can be harmful; what is unknown is to what specific extent or degree and by what timetable harm can become manifest in any person’s health. This blog will explore these, and related topics in the near future.