Heliox
Heliox (pronounced: hel-ee-ox) is a breathing gas composed of a mixture of helium (He) and oxygen (O2). It is used in medicine primarily to manage patients with difficulty in breathing due to conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Etymology
The term "Heliox" is derived from the names of its two components: helium and oxygen. Helium, from the Greek word "helios" meaning sun, was first discovered in the sun's spectrum. Oxygen, from the Greek words "oxy" meaning sharp and "genes" meaning producing, was so named for its supposed role in forming acids.
Usage in Medicine
Heliox has been used in clinical practice since the early 1930s. It is used as a therapy for patients with airway obstruction because it is less dense than air, allowing it to flow more easily through constricted airways. This can reduce the work of breathing for patients with conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, or COPD.
Related Terms
- Helium: A colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the noble gas group in the periodic table.
- Oxygen: A chemical element with symbol O and atomic number 8, necessary for most forms of life on Earth.
- Breathing Gas: A mixture of gaseous chemical elements and compounds used for respiration.
- Asthma: A common long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs.
- Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) in the lungs.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A type of obstructive lung disease characterized by long-term breathing problems and poor airflow.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Heliox
- Wikipedia's article - Heliox
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