Oxygen therapy can breathe life back into your health and even treat diseases like cancer, says Dr Leigh Erin Connealy

Oxygenis arguably the most critical element on Earth. Essential in so many capacities, from the air we breathe to the water we drink, this odorless, colorless, gaseous molecule plays a major role in countless life sustaining functions.

Every single cell in our bodies relies on this nourishing “nutrient” every hour of every day for every task. And while you can go without food for two weeks and water for two days, you can’t survive for more than two minutes without oxygen. Here’s what you need to know about O2 and how to harness its healing power for better health.

The ins and outs of O2 

Oxygen is carried throughout the body via red blood cells. For our bodies to function normally, oxygen saturation needs to remain between 96 and 100 percent (as measured by a pulse oximeter). This saturation level should remain constant and is achieved by normal respiration. 

However, certain health conditions, such as emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, can lead to oxygen deficiency, called hypoxia. It makes perfect sense that these lung-related problems cause hypoxia, but other factors can create oxygen deficits as well. Injuries, trauma, inflammation and toxicity can also rob much-needed oxygen from the body.

While supplemental oxygen may be required to treat or manage chronic conditions, several other modalities and therapies can boost oxygen levels throughout the body, resulting in significantly faster healing, restored health and optimal well-being.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy