SUPPLEMENTARY oxygen should only be used under the observation of a medical professional and not be used at home unsupervised, the Malaysian Medical Association said today.
 
“Unregulated sales and purchase of oxygen supplementation should stop as the practice is not beneficial and may even be harmful to the patient,” MMA president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said in a statement.
 
“Oxygen supplementation should only be part of a prescription from registered medical practitioners.”
 
The storage of the oxygen canisters at home is also a fire hazard, he added.
 
Dr Victor Hoe, professor of occupational and public health at University of Malaya and an MMA member, said breathing in 100% oxygen for prolonged periods of time could lead to complications. 
 
“The oxygen coming out from the canister is cold and dry and it needs to be conditioned before we can breathe it in. 
 
“Breathing cold and dry air can damage the lungs and increases the risk of lung infections such as Covid-19.”
 
Dr Hoe added that supplementary oxygen for home use is only prescribed for patients with chronic lung or heart conditions and that too in controlled amounts.
 
“This is because excessive oxygen is not beneficial and can be toxic.”
 
He said the purchase of oxygen for use at home is on the rise due to information on social media that Covid-19 patients report a decreased partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in their blood.
 
“It is important for us to understand that all the patients with Covid-19 under home isolation are monitored closely by healthcare workers. 
 
“If there is any deterioration in their PaO2, the Covid-19 patients will be admitted to the hospitals for further assessment and treatment,” he explained. – September 11, 2021.