How to treat chronic obstructive lung disease in adults?

Question

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.

Answer 1

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.