What are potential side effects of long-term oxygen therapy?

Long-term oxygen therapy can lead to oxygen toxicity and lung injury, particularly when high concentrations of oxygen are administered over extended periods. This occurs because oxygen, while essential for life, can become harmful at elevated levels, especially when inhaled for prolonged durations. Oxygen toxicity can affect the central nervous system, leading to symptoms such as seizures, and it can also damage lung tissue, causing inflammation and potentially leading to conditions like oxygen-induced hypercapnia or respiratory failure.

Furthermore, the lungs are particularly sensitive organs, and the prolonged presence of high oxygen levels can generate reactive oxygen species, resulting in oxidative stress. This can impair lung function and exacerbate pre-existing respiratory conditions, reinforcing the importance of monitoring oxygen levels and ensuring that therapy is administered judiciously, tailored to the patient's needs.

Options regarding blood pressure increases, allergies to oxygen, and muscle spasms are generally not recognized as common side effects associated with long-term oxygen therapy. Blood pressure alterations can occur for many reasons but are not directly linked to the therapy itself. Similarly, oxygen is not known to cause allergic reactions, and while muscle spasms can arise from various causes, they are not specifically a side effect of oxygen therapy.