Can you get too much oxygen in your body?

As a respiratory therapist with experience in both clinical and hyperbaric settings, I can tell you that it is indeed possible to get too much oxygen in your body, which is known as oxygen toxicity. Oxygen toxicity can affect different parts of the body, and the effects can be quite serious. When breathing high concentrations of oxygen for extended periods, the central nervous system (CNS) can be affected. Oxygen toxicity to the CNS can lead to symptoms such as confusion, disorientation, and in severe cases, it can cause seizures, which are characterized by brief periods of rigidity followed by convulsions and unconsciousness. This is particularly a concern for divers who breathe compressed air at greater than atmospheric pressures, as the increased pressure allows more oxygen to dissolve in the blood, raising the risk of toxicity. In addition to CNS effects, high levels of oxygen can also lead to pulmonary oxygen toxicity, which affects the lungs. This can result in damage to the lung tissue, causing symptoms such as pain during breathing and difficulty in breathing. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory failure. It's important to note that oxygen toxicity is generally a risk when oxygen levels are significantly above normal atmospheric levels, such as in hyperbaric chambers or for patients on high-flow oxygen therapy. Under normal circumstances, the human body has mechanisms to regulate oxygen levels and prevent toxicity.

Central nervous system oxygen toxicity can cause seizures, brief periods of rigidity followed by convulsions and unconsciousness, and is of concern to divers who encounter greater than atmospheric pressures. Pulmonary oxygen toxicity results in damage to the lungs, causing pain and difficulty in breathing.