Healing Depths | Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Explained.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized room or tube. This therapy is used to treat various medical conditions and is believed to promote healing by increasing the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream.

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How HBOT Works.

During a hyperbaric oxygen therapy session, a patient is placed in a hyperbaric chamber and breathes in pure oxygen at higher-than-normal atmospheric pressure. This increase in pressure allows the lungs to gather more oxygen which is then dissolved into the blood at a much higher concentration.

By increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood, HBOT helps to deliver more oxygen to the body’s tissues and organs. This can promote healing, reduce inflammation, and improve circulation. Additionally, the increased oxygen levels can help the body’s natural healing processes to function more efficiently.

Conditions Treated with HBOT.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to treat a wide range of medical conditions. Some of the most common conditions treated with HBOT include:

• Wound Healing: HBOT is often used to treat wounds that are having difficulty healing, such as diabetic foot ulcers, non-healing wounds, and radiation injuries.

• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: HBOT can help to remove carbon monoxide from the body and restore normal oxygen levels in the blood.

• Decompression Sickness: Also known as “the bends,” this condition can occur in scuba divers who ascend too quickly. HBOT helps to reduce the size of nitrogen bubbles in the bloodstream, relieving symptoms.

• Gas Gangrene: This rare but serious condition is caused by a bacterial infection and can be effectively treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

• Radiation Injury: HBOT can help to heal damaged tissue caused by radiation therapy for cancer.

• Stroke: Some studies suggest that HBOT may help to improve neurological function and quality of life in stroke survivors.

• Traumatic Brain Injury: HBOT is being researched as a potential treatment for traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome.

The HBOT Experience.

In a typical HBOT session, the patient will be placed in a hyperbaric chamber and the pressure will be slowly increased. This process can take around 10-15 minutes, and the patient may experience a feeling of fullness in their ears, similar to the sensation experienced during takeoff and landing on an airplane.

Once the desired pressure is reached, the patient will breathe in pure oxygen for some time, usually around 60-90 minutes. During this time, the patient can relax, read, or listen to music while the therapy takes place.

After the session is complete, the pressure in the chamber will be slowly reduced, and the patient can exit the chamber. Some patients may experience mild lightheadedness or fatigue after the session, but these side effects typically subside quickly.

Conclusion.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a versatile and effective treatment for a variety of medical conditions. By increasing the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream, HBOT can promote healing, reduce inflammation, and improve overall patient well-being. As research continues to uncover new benefits of this therapy, HBOT will likely become an even more widely used treatment in the future.