Oxygen therapy 'can prolong the life of COPD patients'
Two controlled trials of long-term oxygen therapy have shown that the treatment can prolong life in people who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).
According to the Long-term home oxygen therapy study by Dr David Flenley, published in the CHEST journal, using an oxygen concentrator proved particularly effective and very practical.
The research suggested that breathing oxygen-enriched air was very useful at night to stop pulmonary hypertension in hypoxemic episodes of rapid eye movement sleep.
As well as helping COPD patients, those who suffer with other lung conditions, such as cystic fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, could also benefit from home oxygen equipment, Dr Flenley concluded.
A study led by Dr Stephanie London, from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the US, uncovered a series of DNA sequences linked to impaired pulmonary function, which she claims could help medics develop a better understanding of COPD and treatments for it.
Posted by James Worrall
21/01/2010 18:25:36
Subscribe to the News RSS feed
Related articles