If you use supplemental oxygen, you may be wondering if your body will become dependent on it. Dr. Peter Terry, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Johns Hopkins, addesses this common concern.

Some people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) benefit not only from breath exercises, improved breathing techniques, and medications, but also from home oxygen therapy. Home oxygen therapy typically enhances sleep and mood, increases mental alertness and stamina, and allows people to carry out their daily activities more efficiently.

By reducing the blood pressure in the lungs and the workload of the right side of the heart, oxygen therapy may prevent the development of corpulmonale (heart disease that is caused by high blood pressure in the lungs).

Q. If I use my supplemental oxygen, will my body become dependent on it?

Dr. Terry: If you have been prescribed supplemental oxygen, it means that your body is deteriorating because you don't have adequate oxygen in your blood. Using supplemental oxygen will not cause a worsening of your COPD or make you dependent on oxygen in the way that the body might become dependent on an addictive drug. Taking supplemental oxygen will, however, help prevent a number of complications.

Studies show that people with COPD who have low levels of oxygen have more problems with short-term memory and concentration than those who have adequate oxygen levels. Low levels of oxygen can also increase blood pressure in the lungs, raising the risk of developing pulmonary hypertension.

Supplemental oxygen will also increase your stamina, which is important not only to your quality of life, but also to your health, because you won't lose muscle tone because of inactivity. If you need supplemental oxygen but don't use it, you may become short of breath very quickly -- for example, after only 20 steps. But by using supplemental oxygen, you may be able to walk five blocks without shortness of breath. Not only does that mean you can do more, but your muscle tone won't deteriorate because you'll be more active.