Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) is a medical treatment that enhances and accelerates the body’s natural healing process. This is done by simply inhaling 100% oxygen in a pressure chamber where the atmospheric pressure is increased under strict control. HBOT is used for a wide range of diseases and conditions, generally as part of a complete medical treatment plan.

When we breathe normally, oxygen is transported through the body only by red blood cells. HBOT causes oxygen to distribute through all body fluids, plasma, central nervous system fluids, lymphatic fluids and bones. This allows it to reach places in the body where blood flow is blocked or weakened. When extra oxygen reaches damaged tissue, the body can use it for its own healing process, which was previously blocked. The oxygen boost dramatically increases the ability of white blood cells to eliminate bacteria. It also reduces swelling and allows faster growth of new blood vessels in damaged areas. HBOT is a simple, non-invasive and painless treatment.

Science has long known that healing cannot take place in many parts of the body if there is not enough oxygen in the corresponding tissue. Most disease and injury takes place at the tissue or even cellular level and often lingers there. In many cases, such as circulatory problems, non-healing wounds, or strokes, too little oxygen reaches the damaged area, causing the body’s healing process to fail. HBOT provides this missing oxygen naturally and with minimal side effects.

HBOT treatments have improved the quality of life for many patients suffering from various conditions that more conventional medical practices have failed to alleviate or resolve. Conditions ranging from stroke and cerebral palsy to chronic headaches and fatigue have been shown to improve after HBOT treatments.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is useful for all diseases that could be improved by increased oxygen availability in tissues, and also for infections where its antibiotic aspects are beneficial, either as primary therapy or in conjunction with other treatments and medications.

• Compartment syndrome/crush injury/other traumatic ischemia.
• Decompression sickness (Bends)
• Skin grafts and (compromised) flaps
• Thermal burns
• Air or gas embolism
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Osteomyelitis (refractory)
• Diabetic and other wounds
• Exceptional blood loss (anemia)
• Gas gangrene
• Intracranial abscess
• Necrotizing soft tissue infection
• Osteoradionecrosis and radiation tissue damage
  
  

In addition to the conditions listed above, for which HBOT is an accepted and covered treatment in most developed countries, the following conditions have also been shown to benefit treatment and may be covered by your insurer:

• Alzheimer
• Autism
• Cerebral Palsy
• Lyme disease
• Migraine
• Multiple sclerosis
• Just before drowning
• Recovery from plastic surgery
• Sports injuries
• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury

• Whether you have cold or flu symptoms, fever, sinus or nasal congestion, or chest congestion.
• Whether there is a possibility that you are pregnant.
• Whether there has been a change in any of your medications.
• If you skipped a meal before your HBOT treatment.
• if you are diabetic and have not administered your insulin before your treatment.
• If you have concerns or fears.

Quite simply, you enter the luxuriously appointed chamber, which is then sealed and pressurized. You sit in a comfortable chair with a large touchscreen control panel to control both the treatment and the music of your choice (connect any device via USB). You place a mask on your face, sit back and let the oxygen flowing through the mask and the pressure in the chamber work their double wonders deep at the cellular level of your body. The treatment lasts 60-90 minutes.

Clean cotton is the only clothing fabric allowed in the chamber. No cosmetics, perfumes, hair preparations, deodorants, wigs or jewelry are allowed in the chamber. The technician needs to know if you are taking any medications, including non-prescription medications. Patients are advised not to consume alcohol or carbonated beverages for four hours prior to treatment. In general, it is recommended to avoid smoking and other tobacco products during HBOT treatment, as they hinder the body’s oxygen transport.

HBOT is generally very safe, and both the patient and the technician can stop the vast majority of side effects simply by stopping the flow of oxygen.

The risks are rare, but include:

• Worsening of myopia (nearsightedness) due to temporary changes in the shape of the eye lens
• Middle ear injury due to the pressure
• Lung collapse (barotrauma, very rare) due to the pressure
• Lowering blood glucose in diabetics treated with insulin.