Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO therapy) is one of the treatments that the patient undergoes the administration of oxygen under pressure. It is commonly employed in the management of many diseases as this simply promotes the system’s ability to heal itself. In addition to enhancing the healing process of a wound, HBO therapy has been shown to help in patient recovery from other serious health complications.
What Is HBO Therapy?
HBO therapy is a therapeutic method in which the patient has to get into a chamber containing oxygen at high pressure. While in normal conditions, we breathe an air that contains only 21% oxygen, HBO therapy administers 100% oxygen and substantially boosts the ability of the blood to transport it.
How Does It Work?
- Increased Oxygen Levels: The pressure inside the chamber enable oxygen to penetrate your blood plasma, lymph and cerebrospinal fluids.
- Enhanced Tissue Repair: Oxygen thus delivered gets to tissues that lack adequate blood supply and helps in cell repair and healing.
- Boosted Immune Response: HBO therapy stimulated white blood cells and thus assists to defend the body against infections.
HBO Therapy : Its Applications in Medicine
HBO therapy has been prescribed for several diseases and now adjunctive applications are appearing frequently.
- Chronic Wounds
Used in the management of diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, ischemic ulcers and radiation injury.
Enhances the healing process by getting oxygen delivered to the tissues that has very little supply of the same.
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Efficiently clears carbon monoxide from the bloodstream, thereby preventing tissue damage and probable brain injury.
- Decompression Sickness
Traditionally prescribed to divers with ‘the bends’, it assists in the removal of nitrogen bubbles in the blood stream.
- Head Injuries or sometimes also referred as Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Improves oxygen supply to the brain and decreases inflammation while also encouraging the brain to change and heal.
- Radiation Damage
Helps reconstruct tissues that are injured during radiation therapy, leading to better late outcome.
- Infections
They are used in absorbing septic shock situations such as necrotizing fasciitis; the supply of oxygen helps kill bacterial infection and aid tissue healing.
Benefits of HBO Therapy
HBO therapy offers a range of benefits, making it an effective treatment for diverse medical needs:
- Improved Healing
The oxygen enriched atmosphere increases the speed of tissue healing, decrease inflammation and stimulates the formation of new blood vessels.
- Enhanced Immune Function
HBO therapy enhances the function of white blood cells used by the body to fight all types of infections efficiently.
- Reduced Inflammation
The therapy has the beneficial effects of decreasing tissue inflammation and swelling thereby increasing tissue healing rates.
- Non-Invasive
Alternative and complementary HBO therapy is safe and minimally invasive treatment option for patients.
- Versatile Applications
The use of HBO therapy is integrated to many medical therapies including, treatment of wound care 5, neurological disorders 5.
Who would benefit from HBO Therapy?
HBO therapy is beneficial for individuals with:
Diabetic foot ulcers.
Post-surgical wounds.
Sports injuries.
Stroke-related damage.
Chronic fatigue syndrome.
As a general rule, seek medical advice from your doctor to find out if you are a good candidate for HBO therapy.
The Various Events That Occur During HBO Therapy
- Preparation
Clothing worn by the patient is loosen base on comfort.
Jewellery or metal ornaments are taken off in view of security reasons.
- Inside the Chamber
You will either lie down or just sit in a confined controlled pressured pressurized area.
It becomes steadily greater, and you use a mask or a hood to breathe in straight oxygen.
- Duration
They usually take 60-90 minutes of your time depending with your health state.
- Post-Treatment
In more rare cases, some patients experience mild fatigues or pressure in the affected ears, these effects are short-lived.
Safety and Side Effects
HBO therapy is relatively safe when administered by physicians. However, mild side effects may include:
Temporary ear discomfort.
Sinus congestion.
This maybe so for some patients; claustrophobia is an aspect that is evident in patients.
Possible negative effects are but uncommon and include oxygen toxicity associated with relaxed treatment regiments or treatments at high concentrations.
Main Evidence from Organ of Origin/Discipline to Support HBO Therapy
Numerous studies back the efficacy of HBO therapy:
Diabetic Wound Healing: The published articles in Medical Journal of Australia and Journal of Wound Care made clear that, HBO therapy for chronic wound treatment increased up to 70% of the recovery rate in the study named Research in Diabetes Care.
Brain Injuries: Articles reported in the PLOS ONE show enhanced cognitive ability in patients with TBI.
Radiation Tissue Damage: The Lancet Oncology also proves that HBO therapy is effective in the treatment of radiation induced injuries.
HBOT Chambers at Oxygen Health Systems
Oxygen Health Systems has medical, commercial and home hyperbaric treatments that are appropriate to medical clinics, health spas and individual home use. Their chambers are created for protection, convenience, and productivity allowing HBO therapy to reach a wider group of people.
Make your visit to Oxygen Health Systems to meet their products range and avail details about how HBO therapy will improve your health and recovery.
Conclusion
HBO therapy is vibrant, univocal treatment that has numerous benefits, supported by scientific data. Standing acupuncture is a treatment with the broadest application: it accelerates the healing of wounds and surgical operations, contributes to the rehabilitation of brain injuries and infections.
Looking for an improvement in the medical treatment you’ve chosen? HBO therapy is among the safest and most effective non-surgical methods. It is highly recommended that any such therapy be discussed with a healthcare professional to see is it suitable for you.
Better health and the revitalization of your body starts today with hyperbaric oxygen therapy!