Many people recovering from COVID-19 find that certain symptoms linger long after the virus itself has cleared. Breathlessness, exhaustion and difficulty concentrating are common challenges that can drag on for weeks or months. Oxygen therapy has emerged as a valuable tool in post-COVID rehabilitation programmes. By boosting the amount of oxygen available to the body’s tissues, it helps to speed up repair processes, calm inflammation and restore energy levels. Whether delivered through home oxygen concentrators or via sessions in hyperbaric chambers, medical oxygen therapy is proving its worth in helping people reclaim their health and vitality.
Enhanced Tissue Oxygenation
When lung function has been compromised by the virus, blood oxygen levels can remain lower than optimal. Supplemental oxygen raises the concentration of oxygen in the bloodstream, ensuring that organs and muscles receive the fuel they need for repair.
Home oxygen concentrators provide a steady flow of oxygen at prescribed rates, supporting everyday activities such as walking, eating and light chores without overwhelming fatigue. In more severe cases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) delivers pure oxygen in a pressurised chamber, greatly increasing the volume of oxygen dissolved in plasma. This can reach areas of the body where blood flow is limited, jump-starting healing in damaged lung tissue.
Support for Cellular Repair and Regeneration
Oxygen is an essential substrate for mitochondrial function, the engine of every cell. With more oxygen available, cells can produce energy (ATP) more efficiently, driving the repair of damaged lung fibres and other affected tissues.
Furthermore, HBOT stimulates angiogenesis – the formation of new blood vessels. By enhancing circulation, fresh oxygen and nutrients reach areas of injury more effectively, accelerating regeneration. Over time, patients often regain lung capacity and strength, allowing them to return to activities they had put on hold.
Cardiovascular Recovery
COVID-19 can leave lasting effects on heart health, manifesting as palpitations, chest pain or reduced stamina. Oxygen therapy supports cardiovascular function by improving cardiac output and reducing strain on the heart.
Enhanced oxygen delivery helps the heart muscle to contract more efficiently, restoring normal heart-rate variability and lowering the risk of irregular rhythms. With a stronger, more responsive cardiovascular system, patients find they can gradually increase their exercise levels without undue breathlessness or dizziness.
Modulation of Inflammation
Persistent inflammation is a key driver of long-term COVID symptoms, from chest discomfort to aching muscles and joints. Oxygen therapy helps to bring down levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the chemical messengers that intensify swelling and pain.
In HBOT, repeated exposure to high-pressure oxygen has been shown to reduce inflammatory markers throughout the body. This creates a more favourable environment for tissues to recover, easing sore throats and reducing tightness in the chest. As inflammation subsides, many patients report clearer breathing and a lighter sense of well-being.
Cognitive and Neurological Improvement
Many post-COVID sufferers describe “brain fog,” memory lapses and difficulty focusing. These issues often stem from both inflammation in the brain and reduced oxygen supply.
By boosting cerebral oxygenation, therapy sessions enhance blood flow to key regions involved in memory and attention. As a result, patients frequently experience sharper thinking, better recall and a more stable mood. Improved sleep quality, a common outcome of oxygen treatment, further supports cognitive function by allowing the brain to consolidate memories and repair neural connections.
Alleviation of Fatigue and Improved Sleep
Chronic tiredness is one of the most debilitating aspects of long-term recovery. Even small tasks can leave people utterly exhausted.
Oxygen therapy helps cells generate energy more effectively and reduces the wear-and-tear caused by ongoing inflammation. Many patients report a noticeable lift in daytime energy levels within days of starting treatment. In addition, by calming inflammation and lowering stress on the body, sleep cycles often normalise, leading to deeper, more restorative rest.
In fact, oxygen therapy offers a multi-faceted approach to post-COVID recovery. By enhancing oxygenation, damping down inflammation, promoting tissue repair, bolstering heart and brain function, and easing fatigue, it addresses the root causes of persistent symptoms.
Whether via at-home concentrators or clinic-based hyperbaric sessions, these treatments are helping countless people in South Africa and beyond to move past long COVID and embrace a fuller, more energetic life once again.
