Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment
- How is HBOT administered?
- Who Can Benefit from HBOT?
- Approved Indications for HBOT
- What to expect during treatment
- What you can bring into the chamber
WHAT IS HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an exciting medical treatment which enhances tissue levels of life-giving oxygen. Normally, oxygen is almost exclusively carried by red blood cells. During HBOT, there is a substantial increase in the amount of oxygen carried in all body fluids including plasma, cerebrospinal, lymph, and intracellular fluids. This allows increased oxygen levels even in areas with poor or compromised blood supply as well as in areas of tissue damage.
Increasing tissue oxygen levels produces several important long term therapeutic benefits including enhanced growth of new blood vessels, increased ability of white blood cells to destroy bacteria and remove toxins, increased growth of fibroblasts (cells involved in wound healing), and enhanced metabolic activity of previously marginally functioning cells including brain neurons. Patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy enter a one-person clear acrylic chamber where they breathe 100% oxygen delivered to the hyperbaric chamber under increased atmospheric pressure. During the hyperbaric treatments—which typically last 60 to 90 minutes—patients relax, watch television, or sleep while they are carefully monitored by highly trained technicians with whom they can communicate easily through an intercom system. Hyperbaric oxygen treatments are safe and painless, although approximately 5% of patients (typically those who report ear pain with flying) may experience mild ear discomfort.
HBOT is approved by the FDA for the treatment of many conditions including burns, diabetic ulcers and carbon monoxide poisoning. See Approved Indications for HBOT for a complete list of medical conditions receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy.