What is the fundamental goal of Heliox therapy regarding the patient's respiratory system?

To ease the physical burden of respiration by reducing the work of breathing (WOB)

It is crucial to understand that Heliox functions primarily as a physical adjunct rather than a pharmaceutical treatment for the root pathology. Its role is not to cure the disease process—such as resolving the inflammation in asthma or treating the infection causing obstruction. Instead, by reducing the density of the gas mixture, Heliox lowers the resistance encountered as gas moves through the airways, particularly the large airways experiencing turbulent flow. This mechanical advantage directly translates into lessening the overall 'work of breathing' (WOB), thereby reducing fatigue on the respiratory muscles and providing a stabilization bridge until definitive treatments for the underlying cause take effect.