Page 96 - Covid 2021 June 2021

Q. Do we see many cases of silent hypoxia in this wave? How can this be addressed?
A. Silent hypoxia or happy hypoxia is referred to as the early stage of COVID-19. As the oxygen level drops, one may start feeling shortness of breath, confusion, and other symptoms. Keep watching for these signs and do not ignore them. This is true for young people as well. If you monitor low oxygen level, change in lip colour from natural to blue or persistent sweating, consult the covid helpline or doctor. They could be the early sign of silent hypoxia.
Q. In brief, how can proning help enhance blood oxygen levels?
A. Proning is a medically accepted process to improve the distribution and exchange of oxygen in the lungs. A patient is safely placed from their back onto their abdomen (stomach), i.e., having face down to improve breathing and oxygenation. It has been shown beneficial for COVID-19 patients with compromised breathing comfort, especially during home isolation.
Q. Is pure oxygen used in hospitals?
A. Medical oxygen contains high purity oxygen used for medical treatments and is developed for use in human body. Cylinders contain a compressed oxygen gas and no gases are allowed in the cylinder to prevent contamination.
Q. What is the use of Medical Oxygen?
A. Oxygen is used for treatment in hospitals. Hence, it is considered a drug or a pharmaceutical product.
Q. What is the need for Medical Oxygen?
A. The human body requires oxygen to survive, and typically, we breathe in from air. However, if you have lung disease or other medical conditions such as COVID-19, you may not get enough oxygen due to compromised lungs. That can leave you short of breath and cause problems with your heart, brain, and other parts of your body.
Q. Can breathing 100 per cent oxygen harm your body?
A. Yes. Breathing 100% oxygen also eventually leads to collapse of the alveoli (atelectasis).
Q. Can you get excess (more than required) oxygen from an Oxygen Concentrator?
A. It is possible to get excess (more than required) oxygen from an oxygen concentrator. However, this is quite rare when oxygen concentrators are used as directed and prescribed. All supplemental oxygen requires a prescription from a doctor, who carefully chooses your oxygen requirement.
Q. What is the role of oxygen during COVID-19 Disease?
A. The demand for medical oxygen is increased in COVID-19 as the disease primarily affects the lungs and, in severe cases, causes death due to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and pneumonia.
Q. When does a patient require medical oxygen in a COVID-19 positive case?
A. As per AIIMS/ICMR-Covid-19/National Task Force/Joint Monitoring Group (Dte.GHS), MoHFW, Government of India, Clinical Guidelines for Management of Adult COVID-19 Patient
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