Question:medium

Which of the following is the life-saving mixture for an asthma patient?

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Heliox (a mixture of helium and oxygen) reduces airway resistance due to the low density of helium, making it beneficial for asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • \( \text{Mixture of helium and oxygen} \)
  • \( \text{Mixture of neon and oxygen} \)
  • \( \text{Mixture of xenon and nitrogen} \)
  • \( \text{Mixture of argon and oxygen} \)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

For medical applications involving gas mixtures, particularly for asthma patients:1. Heliox's Helium Component: * Helium, an inert gas, possesses significantly lower density than air. This characteristic minimizes airway resistance, facilitating improved oxygen delivery through narrowed or blocked airways in asthma patients.2. Oxygen's Role in the Mixture: * Oxygen is crucial for ensuring adequate patient oxygenation. Its combination with helium guarantees the patient receives essential oxygen while benefiting from reduced airway resistance.3. Comparative Analysis with Other Gas Mixtures: * Gas mixtures such as neon-oxygen, xenon-nitrogen, or argon-oxygen do not provide comparable benefits to Heliox. These alternative gases are either denser or lack the specific properties required for effective airway resistance reduction. Therefore, a helium-oxygen mixture (Heliox) is optimal for this application. Final Answer:\[\boxed{\text{Mixture of helium and oxygen}}\]
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