Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: The Essentials

HBOT may just be the treatment of choice you’re waiting for

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy or HBOT for short, is a type of medical treatment that uses pure oxygen (100%) in the presence of high pressure to heal damaged cells and tissues. In this way, it speeds up the healing of your body. Normally, oxygen entering your body as you breath is distributed around your body by your red blood cells. Using hyperbaric oxygen therapy, oxygen gets dissolved within all of your body fluids so it can reach tissues which are not easily supplied by the circulation such as injured areas. Simply put, if you increase the amount of pressure around you (atmospheric pressure), you will be able to get more oxygen to the cells and tissues that need it.

Most of us are familiar with the fact that we need oxygen to function. Every cell in our body needs oxygen to perform its jobs. For example, the majority of your white blood cells can’t perform their bacteria-killing actions without oxygen. However cells found in damaged tissues can’t get enough oxygen because of impaired blood flow to the site. So you need to help the oxygen to get there. This is where HBOT comes in. HBOT makes sure that there’s enough oxygen for every cell in every part of your body so that it can heal itself and perform its tasks optimally.

hbot-hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-treatment

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy usually takes place inside a small chamber, much like a small and cosy submarine. Your whole body is placed inside the chamber where the atmospheric pressure is able to be controlled and can be increased up to three times the normal level.

The concept of HBOT inside chambers was first conceived by a scientist named Cunningham in the early 1900s. He used a pressurised chamber to increase the amount of oxygen a friend of his was taking in. His friend and colleague was sick with influenza at the time and had a lot of difficulty breathing. As a consequence of his sickness, his oxygen levels were low. Cunningham was successful in increasing the oxygen level and was able to treat many other conditions with his technique as well.

Clinical Uses of HBOT

HBOT can be used with a lot of different medical conditions, including some where regular medical treatment is not working. Some health insurance companies even cover this form of treatment for certain conditions.

Also, there are some off-label medical conditions where HBOT is used. While these are still experimental, some of them are building momentum when it comes to positive results.

People who suffer from migraines, multiple sclerosis and stroke.
People that nearly drowned.
Recovery from a plastic surgery procedure. HBOT may speed healing time.
Children with cerebral palsy and autism.
Athletes who have significant sports injuries.
Some types of cancer.

Note: The lists given here is by no means complete.

Benefits of HBOT

Let’s say there is nothing wrong with you and you’re wondering what benefits you can get if you undergo HBOT. Here are some of them:

You may not feel there’s anything wrong at this point in your adult life. But your cells may beg to differ…all 37 trillion (or so) of them. They just might be hanging out for a little more oxygen. More oxygen allows them to accomplish more each day, and at an astounding pace!
Improve the quality of your life. Many people find they have more vitality and energy to enjoy their lives.
Decrease wear and tear processes happening in your body. Whether you like it or not, damage to your tissues and cells occurs from time to time. HBOT increases the rate at which your cells and tissues recover.

Dangers of HBOT

You need to be under medical supervision when you undergo HBOT. Like any other treatment available out there, HBOT carries its own set of risks and side effects.

Side effects of the treatment may include:

Temporary barotrauma to your sinuses and ears. These are the most common side effects.
A few people mention minor temporary visual disturbances.
Oxygen toxicity – very rare.

All of these side effects are reversible.

Your healthcare practitioner can tell you if you’re eligible to undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Only a qualified doctor can administer the treatment. If you suffer from one (or more) of the medical conditions above, you might want to talk to your doctor about giving HBOT a try. Hope may lie in the air!