Vocalization During Huff

Only one healthy volunteer reported feeling no nasal discomfort while inhaling dry oxygen; all the other subjects reported some degree of discomfort and irritation. These data clearly demonstrate that humidification of oxygen reduces nasal discomfort that can occur in both young healthy volunteers and older patients with pulmonary disease, particularly at flows 3 L/min. Two limitations of this study were that subjects reported their feelings after only 1 min at each oxygen flow, and that the healthy subjects were not in the same age range as the patient subjects. Thus, the differences in nasal dryness discomfort between the groups might be attributable to differences in nasal mucosa from aging or chronic respiratory disease, in addition to any potential differences in the dryness sensation itself. In conclusion, humidification of oxygen may be worthwhile, based on patient request and/or symptoms when oxygen therapy via nasal cannula is prescribed, even for flows 4 L/min. Obviously further studies of longer duration are warranted.