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How to treat chronic obstructive lung disease in adults?

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Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

My father has an oxygen saturation (SpO2) level with oxygen of more than 95 and without oxygen of 75-80. He also has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But, all tests are normal, like computed tomography (CT) scan, ultrasonography (USG) and X-ray.

Please explain.
Answered by Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan is a qualified Specialist in Pulmonary Medicine, Tuberculosis, and Respiratory Diseases with extensive years of clinical experience. He has a vast network of professional contacts in the medical field, an outstanding ability to provide healthcare with an emphasis on holistic approach, treating the patients as a physical, emotional, and social being, has an excellent bedside manner, and an admirable ability to establish rapport with the patient. He also has exceptional skills in imparting health related teachings for a complete and speedy recovery of his patients and has an incomparable critical thinking and analytical skills.

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Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

As you said, your father has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and low oxygen levels are expected when the disease is advanced. COPD is a chronic progressive disease. Inhaler medicines are only for symptomatic relief. Smoking cessation is the best policy to halt the progression of the disease. Persistent low oxygen levels are not good as they hamper the quality of life. So, an oxygen supplement is a must. However, keep the flow rates below 0.53 gal/min as high oxygen washes out the carbon dioxide, which is the stimulus for respiration in COPD patients. There is no other way to increase oxygen saturation without giving oxygen. Simultaneously, he has to continue the other inhaler medicines and tablets. So for now, oxygen is a must for him. Even if all the tests are normal, there is no alternative to oxygen.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At June 8, 2016
Reviewed At November 19, 2025

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan is a qualified Specialist in Pulmonary Medicine, Tuberculosis, and Respiratory Diseases with extensive years of clinical experience. He has a vast network of professional contacts in the medical field, an outstanding ability to provide healthcare with an emphasis on holistic approach, treating the patients as a physical, emotional, and social being, has an excellent bedside manner, and an admirable ability to establish rapport with the patient. He also has exceptional skills in imparting health related teachings for a complete and speedy recovery of his patients and has an incomparable critical thinking and analytical skills.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

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Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan
Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan

Allergy Specialist

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Amol Kumar Wasudeorao Diwan is a qualified Specialist in Pulmonary Medicine, Tuberculosis, and Respiratory Diseases with extensive years of clinical experience. He has a vast network of professional contacts in the medical field, an outstanding ability to provide healthcare with an emphasis on holistic approach, treating the patients as a physical, emotional, and social being, has an excellent bedside manner, and an admirable ability to establish rapport with the patient. He also has exceptional skills in imparting health related teachings for a complete and speedy recovery of his patients and has an incomparable critical thinking and analytical skills.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
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