What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a type of treatment that involves providing pure, high-pressure oxygen to individuals 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 is increased two to three times higher than normal air pressure, and the environment is comprised of 100% oxygen. Under these conditions, the patient’s lungs can collect more oxygen (roughly 200-240% more oxygen) than would be possible at normal air pressure.
During an average treatment, the patient will lay inside a hyperbaric chamber for anywhere between 60 and 120 minutes (depending on the condition being treated). Many patients begin with more than one treatment, as the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen increase over time.
Oxygen is an essential element used by the body for healing, and as pure oxygen enters the body, it can also help combat bacteria. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was originally used as a means for treating decompression sickness, but has since become a well-established treatment for many other serious ailments.
BENEFITS OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY
Saturating blood cells and tissues with high concentrations of oxygen in a controlled environment is the core mechanism behind this therapy and which leads to several important benefits.
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.
Saturating the blood and tissues with high oxygen concentrations can displace harmful molecules and/or bacteria, which means hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help your body recover from conditions that may not otherwise heal due to insufficient oxygen.
Treats Infections
Infections typically house themselves in areas where anaerobic (low oxygen) bacteria are thriving. When a high concentration of oxygen is introduced into the blood, anaerobic bacteria begin to die off. Additionally, the excess oxygen stimulates the growth of more white blood cells, which aid in the digestion of bacteria and fungi. Simply put, HBOT is a natural and effective method to fight off infections.
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.
In other words, when oxygen and carbon monoxide are present in the room, carbon monoxide will bind to the hemoglobin, halting oxygen delivery and ultimately causing suffocation.
The only way to outcompete carbon monoxide for hemoglobin binding spots is to oversaturate the body with oxygen. When exposed to 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 illness, 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
HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY FAQ
What is a hyperbaric chamber?
HBOT works by exposing individuals to an environment composed of 100% pure oxygen, at pressures greater than sea level, while they are enclosed in a hyperbaric chamber. This manipulated environment can deliver as much as three times the concentration of oxygen than normally available at atmospheric pressure.
What should I expect during Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) at Aalto Hyperbaric?
At Aalto Hyperbaric, we ensure 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. Nevertheless, there are some things you can do to prepare for your treatment, and our technicians are 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 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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Schedule an appointment with us today by calling 1-888-303-HBOT (4268) or using the contact form below.
