What is the primary purpose of oxygen therapy in respiratory care?

The primary purpose of oxygen therapy in respiratory care is to increase the amount of oxygen available to the patient and improve saturation levels. This is crucial for patients who have conditions that affect their ability to oxygenate their blood adequately, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). By providing supplemental oxygen, healthcare providers can help restore adequate oxygen levels in the bloodstream, which is essential for the proper functioning of organs and tissues.

Improving oxygen saturation levels helps alleviate symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and confusion that can arise from hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels). The therapeutic goal is to ensure that the patient has sufficient oxygen to meet metabolic demands and to prevent the complications that can arise from inadequate oxygenation, including organ dysfunction and failure.

In contrast, the other options do not encapsulate the primary objective of oxygen therapy. While the enhancement of respiratory rate and improvement of carbon dioxide elimination may be indirect benefits, they are not the principal goals of oxygen therapy itself. Similarly, stabilizing blood pressure is unrelated to the direct effects of oxygen therapy; it is more often associated with cardiovascular management rather than respiratory therapy.