Inhalation therapies are a group of respiratory, or breathing, treatments designed to help restore or improve breathing function in patients with a variety of diseases, conditions, or injuries. The treatments range from at-home oxygen therapy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to mechanical ventilation for patients with acute respiratory failure. Inhalation therapies usually include the following categories:

• Oxygen therapy
• Incentive spirometry
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
• Oxygen chamber therapy
• Mechanical ventilation
• Newborn life support.

Inhalation therapies are ordered for various stages of diseases that are causing progressive or sudden respiratory failure.

Oxygen therapy is most commonly ordered to support patients with emphysema and other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The oxygen therapy is usually ordered once decreased oxygen saturation in the blood or tissues is shown. Oxygen therapy may also be used in the hospital setting to help return a patient's breathing and oxygen levels...