What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a form of treatment that involves providing pure, high-pressure oxygen to a patient enclosed in a “hyperbaric” (literally: “high pressure”) chamber. HBOT has been approved by the FDA for a variety of conditions.
While the patient is relaxing in the chamber, the air pressure increases two to three times higher than normal air pressure. The environment becomes comprised of 100% oxygen, allowing the patient to breathe roughly 200-240% more oxygen than usual.
Depending on the condition being treated, the patient will lie inside a hyperbaric chamber for anywhere between 60 and 120 minutes. Many patients are prescribed a series of treatment sessions, as the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen increase over time.
BENEFITS OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was originally used to treat decompression sickness. It has since become a well-established treatment for many other serious ailments. The body uses oxygen to expedite healing and recovery processes. As pure oxygen enters the body, it can also help combat bacteria.
Saturating blood cells and tissues with high concentrations of oxygen in a controlled environment is the core mechanism behind HBOT. The resulting benefits can make a significant difference for patients suffering from painful wounds or chronic illnesses.
Stimulates Healing
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps patients find relief and/or resolution from ailments that cannot be treated effectively through traditional methods or medication. Through exposure to 100% pure oxygen in a high-pressure environment, the body’s natural healing process can be stimulated and even expedited.
Saturating the blood and tissues with high oxygen concentrations can displace harmful molecules and/or bacteria. This means that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help your body recover from conditions that may not otherwise heal due to insufficient oxygen.
Treats Infections
HBOT is a natural and effective method to fight off infections. Infections typically house themselves in areas where anaerobic (low oxygen) bacteria thrive. When a high concentration of oxygen is introduced into the blood, anaerobic bacteria begin to die off. The excess oxygen also stimulates the growth of more white blood cells, which aid in the digestion of bacteria and fungi.
Treats Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Hemoglobin is the molecule in the blood responsible for transporting oxygen through the bloodstream and throughout the body. Hemoglobin has a high affinity for oxygen, but its affinity for carbon monoxide is much greater.
When oxygen and carbon monoxide are present in the room, carbon monoxide will bind to the hemoglobin, halting oxygen delivery and causing suffocation.
The only way to outcompete carbon monoxide for hemoglobin binding spots is to oversaturate the body with oxygen. When a patient is in an environment filled with 100% oxygen, carbon monoxide and other harmful gases will literally be forced out of the body.
FDA-APPROVED HBOT USES
Among the other benefits to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, there are currently 14 conditions that the FDA has approved treatment through the use of HBOT:
- Air or gas embolism
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Clostridial myositis and myonecrosis (gas gangrene)
- Crush injury, compartment syndrome, and other acute traumatic ischemias
- Decompression sickness
Enhancement of healing in selected wound problems, such as diabetically derived illnesses, such as diabetic foot ulcers, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic nephropathy
- Exceptional blood loss (anemia)
- Intracranial abscess
- Necrotizing soft tissue infections (necrotizing fasciitis)
- Osteomyelitis (refractory)
- Delayed radiation injury (soft tissue and bony necrosis)
Skin grafts and flaps (compromised)
- Thermal burns
Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss
What Should I Expect During HBOT at Aalto Hyperbaric?
At Aalto Hyperbaric, our treatments are safe, painless, and non-invasive. Since you are exposed to increased pressure, you may feel a slight fullness in your ears, similar to what you feel when an airplane takes off.
We also have some tips you can follow to prepare for your treatment. Our technicians will be by your side throughout the treatment and will offer you a variety of techniques to eliminate any possible discomfort.
You can visit Aalto Hyperbaric at one of our two state-of-the-art hyperbaric oxygen treatment centers. Experience the results for yourself in Century City, California, or in Woodland Hills, California.
Our treatments are scientifically proven to treat a number of temporary and chronic conditions that traditional medicine may not address. Contact us today if you have any questions about the treatment, or ask your doctor for a recommendation.
You can visit Aalto Hyperbaric at one of our two state-of-the-art hyperbaric oxygen treatment centers. Experience the results for yourself in Century City, California, or in Woodland Hills, California.
Our treatments are safe, painless, and non-invasive. They are scientifically proven to treat a number of temporary and chronic conditions that traditional medicine may not address.
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GET STARTED TODAY
Schedule an appointment with us today by calling 1-888-303-HBOT (4268) or using the contact form below.
