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SPECIALTY TOPICS · GUIDE

Supplemental Oxygen in Healthy People

What we could and could not find on breathing extra oxygen when you are healthy, how medical oxygen differs from oxygen bars, and why more oxygen is not automatically better.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

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What medical oxygen is

MedlinePlus describes oxygen therapy as a treatment that provides you with extra oxygen to breathe in, and says it is only available through a prescription from your health care provider. [1][2] It is a medicine given for a medical problem, not a general wellness product.

Why "more" is not automatically better

Even in sick people, extra oxygen can backfire. A meta-analysis of 25 trials with 16,037 acutely ill adults found that a liberal oxygen strategy increased mortality compared with a conservative one, with no improvement in other outcomes. [3][4] Those were patients in hospital, not healthy people, so the result cannot be carried over to oxygen bars. What it shows is that oxygen is a drug with an upper edge, not something to add by default.

Related pages

Chamber-based oxygen is a different thing: Hyperbaric Oxygen vs Supplemental Oxygen and Oxygen-Based Wellness Claims. To judge a product claim, use How to Evaluate a Health Device. A clinician can help with symptoms: Talking With a Health Professional.

Frequently asked questions

Do oxygen bars improve energy or focus?

We did not find readable trials supporting that. Proper evidence not found.

Is supplemental oxygen available without a prescription?

MedlinePlus says oxygen therapy is only available through a prescription from your health care provider. [2]

Can too much oxygen be harmful?

In acutely ill hospital patients, liberal oxygen use increased mortality in a large meta-analysis. [4]

More details: evidence, limits and cautions

The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.

Proper evidence not found
We looked for human studies and official guidance on breathing extra oxygen (for example in oxygen bars or at home) to improve energy, mood, thinking or recovery in healthy people. We searched PubMed for oxygen bars, recreational oxygen and breathing high-oxygen air in healthy volunteers, and searched the web for regulator or health-agency pages. We found no readable trial or review that supports a benefit, and no regulator page on oxygen bars. That wording does not mean the claims are false. It means we could not verify them. Labels used: insufficient evidence, marketing claim. See How We Label Evidence.
Practical risks
  • Fire. MedlinePlus warns oxygen poses a fire risk, so never smoke or use flammable materials near it. [5]
  • Delayed care. If low energy, breathlessness or poor sleep is the reason, ask a clinician rather than self-treating. See Oxygen Saturation Readings for what home readings can and cannot show.
References
  1. MedlinePlus Health Topic: Oxygen Therapy (definition). Read 2026-10-22.
  2. MedlinePlus Health Topic: Oxygen Therapy. Read 2026-10-22.
  3. Chu DK, et al. Mortality and morbidity in acutely ill adults treated with liberal versus conservative oxygen therapy (IOTA). Lancet 2018 (trials). Read 2026-10-22.
  4. Chu DK, et al. Mortality and morbidity in acutely ill adults treated with liberal versus conservative oxygen therapy (IOTA). Lancet 2018. Read 2026-10-22.
  5. MedlinePlus Health Topic: Oxygen Therapy (risks). Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.