The use of heated oxygen-helium mixture in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease

BACKGROUND: In recent years, along with the development of new pharmacological approaches and treatment COLD (chronic obstructive lung disease), a significant attention is paid to the study of non-medical methods of treatment and correction of the system inflammation occurring.

AIMS: To assess the effectiveness of the use of heated oxygen-helium mixture (OHM) in the rehabilitation of patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis on an outpatient polyclinic stage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The supervision was 102 patients aged from 32 to 56 (43.7±4.1) years. All patients entered into research signed voluntary informed consent. Patients were divided into three groups: the first group (n=32) is the control; the second group (n=35) is the main one. Patients of these groups had a verified diagnosis: chronic obstructive bronchitis, moderate and moderate degree of obstruction, the duration of the disease amounted to 2 years to 16 (5.4±1.4) years. The third group (n=35) is practically healthy patients. The patients of the second and third group passed the respiratory course of heated OHM (the temperature of the mixture in the mask 50º). Breathing was carried out in cyclical-fractionated mode: the breath of the mixture — 5 minutes then breathing with atmospheric air — 5 minutes (one cycle), 3 cycles for the procedure. The course of treatment consisted of 1 procedure per day for 10 days from the first day of the study.

The clinical efficacy of reducing treatment was assessed before the start of therapy, after the 10th procedure in the following indicators: Harvard step test index, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (heart rate), blood pressure recovery time, maximum oxygen consumption (MOC); diagnosis of psycho-emotional state using WBAM Questionnaire (well-being–activity–mood).

RESULTS: In the group of practically healthy patients, a positive dynamics was noted in the speed of adaptive processes for the restoration of the cardiovascular system after physical exertion of the form of a decrease in blood pressure reduction time, a decrease in systolic blood pressure, the indicators of the Harvard step test index and maximum oxygen consumption increased. Patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis, who passed the breathing rate of heated oxygen-helium mixture, had an increase in points on WBAM Questionnaire, which indicates the improvement of the psycho-emotional state of patients.

CONCLUSION: The use of the course of breathing heated oxygen-helium mixture in patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis does not affect the increase in physical performance. The use of heated oxygen-helium mixture has a positive effect on the functional state of practically healthy patients, which is manifested in the form of slowing the connection of the anaerobic mechanisms of energy supply in the process of performing physical exertion, leading to an increase in oxygen consumption, improving physical performance.