What is the primary purpose of oxygen therapy?

The primary purpose of oxygen therapy is to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood of patients who have low oxygen levels, a condition known as hypoxemia. Oxygen therapy provides supplemental oxygen to help improve oxygen saturation levels, enhance oxygen delivery to tissues, and support vital organ function. This is particularly crucial for individuals suffering from conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, or other respiratory impairments where the body struggles to obtain sufficient oxygen from the air.

Oxygen therapy is specifically tailored to meet the individual needs of patients based on their conditions and oxygen saturation levels, allowing for improved overall health and quality of life. By effectively elevating blood oxygen levels, it plays a critical role in preventing potential complications associated with low oxygen, such as organ failure or other serious issues.

While the other options do touch upon aspects of respiratory health, they do not represent the primary goal of oxygen therapy. Reducing carbon dioxide levels might be a secondary effect in some cases, and assisting with medication delivery or treating infections are important in respiratory care but are not the main focus of oxygen therapy itself.