Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that involves breathing in 100% oxygen from a pressurized chamber - a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. This chamber provides an enriched environment that allows for the body to absorb higher amounts of oxygen than can be attained in normal atmospheric pressure.
HBOT is used to treat a range of conditions, such as decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning as well as severe infections. It is also applied to certain cases to stimulate wound healing - particularly in situations when the wound has not responded to regular treatment.
The chamber itself is usually a large cylinder in which one - or more - patients can settle. Then, pressure begins to build up, up to three times the amount found in normal atmosphere. In this environment, the patient will start to breathe oxygen through a mask or hood.
Increased pressure, as well as the high concentration of oxygen can have positive impacts on the body. An elevated level of pressure allows the blood to be saturated with oxygen more easily. This effect is especially beneficial when blood flow gets restricted – such as in a slow-healing wound.
In addition, high levels of oxygen can boost the growth of new blood vessels and trigger collagen synthesis which is essential to tissue repair.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a treatment is usually safe. The most frequent side effect is ear discomfort or pain, but this can be prevented through better inner-ear pressure equalization during the course of the treatment. Other than that, oxygen toxicity can be related to a prolonged treatment.
To sum up, hyperbaric oxygen therapy acts as an efficient and generally safe method for a variety of medical conditions. If the idea of this treatment has come to mind, consider bringing it up to your health care provider and find out whether you could be a suitable candidate.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an innovative medical treatment comprising of breathing pure oxygen inside a pressurized chamber - more commonly known as a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Basically, a higher pressure environment is created in the chamber, wherein the body can absorb more oxygen than at its normal atmospheric pressure.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been apply sporadically in treating many medical conditions, like decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning, and severe infections. Moreover, to accelerate quicker wound healing, particularly in patients with persistent yet unresponsive wounds, this therapy has been used.
The hyperbaric oxygen chamber is usually a colossal cylindrical device, wherein one or multiple patients can be treated at once. The patient is administered in the chamber, and then the pressure is gradually increased till it reaches the desired level, which can range from 1.5 to 3 times the normal atmospheric pressure. After achieving the required pressure, the patient begins to inhale pure oxygen using a mask or hood.
The pressure and oxygen concentration boost inside the hyperbaric oxygen chamber have an abundance of benefits to the body. The higher pressure facilitates oxygen to dissolve much easily in the blood, as a result more oxygen is delivered to the body's tissues. This method can be particularly beneficial in places where blood flow is blocked, that is, in wounds that don't progress in the healing process.
The higher concentration of oxygen also accelerates new blood vessel formation and a surge in collagen - a significant protein for tissue renewal. This helps to speed up the process of healing in persistent wounds.
Generally, Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is secure; however there are certain risks attached to it. The most prevalent side effect is discomfort or pain in the ears, and this can easily be managed by equalising the pressure in both ears during the treatment. Additionally, over a prolonged period, this treatment can lead to oxygen toxicity.
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