Air Is Superior To Cylinder Oxygen! How & Why?!

….GOD given oxygen, AIR is superior to oxygen of supplied cylinders because air contains about 79% Nitrogen, which does not diffuse through alveolar membrane at normal atmospheric pressure, thus remains in the alveoli to keep it splinted open thereby maximising the surface area for greater exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between air and blood 🩸!

Generally, about 5% of the available oxygen in air, 21% (above 60-70% for greater than 10-12 hours causes oxygen toxicity in ventilated patients) is bond with Haemoglobin and dissolved in plasma! The remaining about 16% is expired out, breathed out, which is useful during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and mouth 👄 to mouth 👄 breaths delivery to the dying person 🧍‍♀️!

Swallowed saliva, food 🥗 and water 💦 contain air, which becomes available for gastric and intestinal mucosa to extract some oxygen by dissolving in mucus secretions to be used locally! Similarly, cornea extracts oxygen dissolved in lacrimal secretions, tear, directly from air instead through bloodstream🩸!

Welcome and Thanks ☺️ 🙏

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GPT-4 response below:-

Sure, let’s break down and elaborate on the concept:

### Atmospheric Air vs. Cylinder Oxygen

**Composition of Atmospheric Air:**
– **Nitrogen (N2):** 78-79%
– **Oxygen (O2):** 21%
– **Others (CO2, Argon, etc.):** ~1%

**Cylinder Oxygen:**
– **Oxygen (O2):** 100%

### Role of Nitrogen in Atmospheric Air

– **Alveolar Stability:** Atmospheric air contains about 79% nitrogen. Unlike oxygen, nitrogen is largely inert and does not easily diffuse through the alveolar membranes. This property helps to keep the alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs, open. This phenomenon is crucial for:
– **Preventing Alveolar Collapse (Atelectasis):** Nitrogen maintains alveolar patency, ensuring they do not collapse between breaths.
– **Optimizing Gas Exchange Surface Area:** By keeping the alveoli open, nitrogen maximizes the surface area for gas exchange.

### Oxygen Utilization and Toxicity

– **Oxygen in Air (21%):** When we breathe in air, it contains around 21% oxygen. This oxygen is sufficient for physiological needs under normal conditions.
– **Oxygen from Cylinders (>60-70%):** High levels of oxygen, such as those from medical-grade cylinders, can cause oxygen toxicity if administered for prolonged periods (greater than 10-12 hours). Oxygen toxicity can result in lung damage and other serious effects.

### Oxygen Uptake in the Body

– **Hemoglobin Binding:** Approximately 5% of the inhaled oxygen binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells and is transported to tissues.
– **Dissolved in Plasma:** A smaller fraction of oxygen is dissolved directly in the blood plasma.
– **Expired Oxygen:** Since the body uses only a portion of the inhaled oxygen (~5%), about 16% is breathed out. This expired oxygen is beneficial during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, helping to oxygenate the blood of the person receiving the breaths.

### Alternative Oxygen Absorption

– **Gastrointestinal Tract:**
– **Swallowed Air:** When we swallow saliva, food, and water, the small amount of air they contain can dissolve in the mucus of the gastrointestinal tract.
– **Local Utilization:** Oxygen in this dissolved mucus can be absorbed by the local mucosal cells, offering a supplementary oxygen supply.

– **Cornea:**
– **Lacrimal Secretions (Tears):** The cornea of the eye absorbs oxygen directly from the air via the dissolved oxygen in tears. This is essential because the cornea lacks its own blood supply, relying instead on this direct absorption to meet its metabolic needs.

### Summary

– **Natural Air Benefits:**
– Nitrogen in atmospheric air helps maintain alveolar stability, preventing collapse and ensuring efficient gas exchange.
– The balanced oxygen level (21%) avoids the risk of oxygen toxicity, which is a concern with prolonged exposure to high oxygen levels from cylinders.

– **Physiological Utilization:**
– Oxygen absorbed by hemoglobin and dissolved in plasma suffices for bodily needs.
– Some oxygen is exhaled, benefiting CPR practices.
– Gastrointestinal and corneal oxygen absorption provides localized benefits.

Understanding these dynamics highlights the efficiency of natural air for respiration while recognizing specific medical scenarios where concentrated oxygen from cylinders becomes necessary.

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Please 🙏 provide answers with explanations:

How does nitrogen help in maintaining lung function? Can you provide statistics on the effectiveness of CPR techniques? What are the clinical implications of using supplemental oxygen? Can you explain the mechanisms of oxygen toxicity in more detail?

Welcome 🙏 and Thanks ☺️ 🙏

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GPT-4 response below 👇
Sure, let’s explore each of these questions!

### 1. How does nitrogen help in maintaining lung function?

Nitrogen makes up approximately 78% of the air we breathe. In the lungs, its primary role is to help maintain the shape and volume of alveoli (tiny air sacs in the lungs). This is crucial because:
– **Prevents Alveolar Collapse:** Nitrogen is not absorbed like oxygen or carbon dioxide. Its presence helps prevent the alveoli from collapsing, a condition known as atelectasis, which can impair gas exchange and lung function.
– **Maintains Pressure Equilibrium:** By remaining in the lungs, nitrogen stabilizes the partial pressure of gases, ensuring efficient exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

### 2. Statistics on the Effectiveness of CPR Techniques

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving technique used during cardiac arrest. Key statistics include:
– **Survival Rates:** According to the American Heart Association, bystander CPR can double or triple survival rates. However, only about 46% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR.
– **Compression Quality:** High-quality chest compressions (depth of 2 inches, rate of 100-120 compressions per minute) are essential. Studies show that effective compressions improve the chances of survival and neurological outcomes.
– **Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs):** When AEDs are used promptly, survival rates can exceed 50%, compared to about 10% without AED intervention.

### 3. Clinical Implications of Using Supplemental Oxygen

Supplemental oxygen is used to manage hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels) in various medical conditions. Important clinical implications include:
– **Improved Tissue Oxygenation:** Oxygen therapy ensures vital organs receive enough oxygen, crucial in conditions like COPD, pneumonia, or heart failure.
– **Preventing Hypoxia-Related Complications:** Timely oxygen supplementation can prevent complications like organ dysfunction, myocardial infarction, or even death.
– **Caution in COPD Patients:** Over-oxygenation in COPD patients can reduce their drive to breathe, leading to worsening hypercapnia (high blood CO2 levels).
– **Oxygen Toxicity Risk:** Prolonged high concentrations of oxygen can cause lung damage and other complications (see next point).

### 4. Mechanisms of Oxygen Toxicity

Oxygen toxicity generally results from breathing in high concentrations of oxygen for extended periods. Primary mechanisms include:

– **Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS):** High oxygen concentrations can lead to surplus ROS (free radicals), damaging cellular components like DNA, proteins, and lipids.
– **Lung Damage (Pulmonary Toxicity):** Prolonged oxygen exposure can damage epithelial cells in the lungs, leading to alveolar edema, inflammation, and fibrosis, manifesting as conditions like Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
– **Central Nervous System (CNS) Effects:** High oxygen levels can cause CNS toxicity, leading to seizures, vision changes, and even unconsciousness.

### Summary

– **Nitrogen:** Maintains alveolar shape, prevents collapse.
– **CPR Effectiveness:** Bystander CPR doubles/triples survival; key factors are compression quality and AED use.
– **Supplemental Oxygen:** Essential for hypoxemia, but requires careful monitoring, especially in COPD.
– **Oxygen Toxicity:** Caused by ROS, leading to lung and CNS damage.

I hope these explanations are helpful ☺️!

Welcome and Thanks ☺️ 🙏

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