Helium is a colorless tasteless, non-combustible, non-explosive gas that is seven times lighter than air. Helium does not have anti-inflammatory or bronchodialating properties. Combining helium and oxygen gas (Heliox) results in a gas with a similar viscosity to air but with a substantially lower density. Heliox acts by lowering the resistance to gas flow within the airways and permitting an increase in ventilation. Heliox converts turbulent flow into more efficient laminar flow. It is used medically to treat respiratory disorders and saturation diving or deep see diving, for people who are submerged underwater for a long period of time.
Heliox ease symptoms of various types of respiratory diseases that has been available to medical science since 1935. These treatments are for respiratory diseases like bronchiolitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and croup. Helium replaced the role of nitrogen, which was used in earlier attempts as a carrier gas, because it is less dense than nitrogen and allows easier breathing and the absorption of oxygen into the bloodstream occurs more readily. The use of heliox therapy is also done for conditions that do …show more content…
The high concentration of helium is very crucial, as anything below sixty percent of helium makes the gas mixture too dense for significant opening of airways. While the treatment of heliox therapy is effective at alleviating a wide range of respiratory distress conditions, it only treats the symptoms and has no benefit at preventing the underlying cause of the disease. The use of heliox, therefore, is often done in conjunction with prescribed medication or other medical approaches such as surgery. One of the key benefits of heliox therapy, however, is that, as of 2011, no significant adverse side effects from the treatment have been
Heliox ease symptoms of various types of respiratory diseases that has been available to medical science since 1935. These treatments are for respiratory diseases like bronchiolitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and croup. Helium replaced the role of nitrogen, which was used in earlier attempts as a carrier gas, because it is less dense than nitrogen and allows easier breathing and the absorption of oxygen into the bloodstream occurs more readily. The use of heliox therapy is also done for conditions that do …show more content…
The high concentration of helium is very crucial, as anything below sixty percent of helium makes the gas mixture too dense for significant opening of airways. While the treatment of heliox therapy is effective at alleviating a wide range of respiratory distress conditions, it only treats the symptoms and has no benefit at preventing the underlying cause of the disease. The use of heliox, therefore, is often done in conjunction with prescribed medication or other medical approaches such as surgery. One of the key benefits of heliox therapy, however, is that, as of 2011, no significant adverse side effects from the treatment have been