Oxygen Therapy Summary Oxygen therapy is a treatment that provides you with extra oxygen. Oxygen is a gas that your body needs to function. Normally, your lungs absorb oxygen from the air you breathe. But some conditions can prevent you from getting enough oxygen. You may need oxygen if you have COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Pneumonia A severe asthma attack Late-stage heart failure Cystic fibrosis Sleep apnea The oxygen comes through nasal prongs, a mask, or a breathing tube. If you have a chronic problem, you may have a portable oxygen tank or a machine in your home. A different kind of oxygen therapy is called hyperbaric oxygen therapy. It uses oxygen at high pressure to treat wounds and serious infections. NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Find an Expert American College of Chest Physicians American College of Chest Physicians American Lung Association American Lung Association National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Hyperbaric Oxygenation National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Oxygen Inhalation Therapy National Institutes of Health Related Issues Fires and Burns Involving Home Medical Oxygen National Fire Protection Association Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Don’t Be Misled Food and Drug Administration Living with Oxygen Therapy National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Mechanical Ventilation American Thoracic Society Medical Oxygen Safety National Fire Protection Association Respiratory Home Health Care American Association for Respiratory Care Traveling with Portable Oxygen American College of Chest Physicians What Are the Risks of Oxygen Therapy? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Genetics Genetics Home Reference: pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis National Library of Medicine Specifics Home Oxygen Therapy American Association for Respiratory Care How Does Oxygen Therapy Work? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Array Hyperbaric oxygen therapy Oxygen safety Traveling with breathing problems Using oxygen at home Start Here Oxygen Therapy American Thoracic Society Oxygen Therapy National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Supplemental Oxygen American Lung Association Who Needs Oxygen Therapy? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Encyclopedia Oxygen therapy – infants Using oxygen at home – what to ask your doctor Journal Articles Oxygen Therapy