What is a risk associated with prolonged high-dose oxygen therapy?

Prolonged high-dose oxygen therapy can lead to oxygen toxicity, which is a significant risk. When oxygen levels are excessively elevated in the body over an extended period, it can result in a variety of cellular and tissue damage. This toxicity primarily affects the lungs and the central nervous system. In the lungs, high concentrations of oxygen can lead to pulmonary edema and inflammation, causing symptoms such as cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. In the central nervous system, oxygen toxicity can lead to seizures and other neurological impairments.

The development of oxygen toxicity is due to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage lipid, protein, and DNA structures in cells, leading to oxidative stress. Patients receiving high concentrations of oxygen, especially those on mechanical ventilation, should be monitored closely to limit exposure and reduce the risk of toxicity.

Other options, while relevant to respiratory care, do not directly correlate with the risks associated with high-dose oxygen therapy in the same manner. For instance, hypoxemia pertains to low oxygen levels rather than high; dehydration is an unrelated condition not caused by oxygen levels; and hypercapnia involves an increased level of carbon dioxide in the blood, often resulting from hypoventilation rather than excessive oxygen therapy. Thus, oxygen