Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Patients Seeking Alternatives to Prescription Medicine

A 2011 study reported that 73% of outpatient doctor’s visits resulted in the patient walking out with a prescription in hand. As the use of prescription drugs continues to rise and we uncover further evidence of the long-term effects of corrective medication, a recent study found an increasingly number of men and women are seeking alternative solutions for physical and neurological disabilities.

Originally developed by the military to treat those in the fields of deep-sea diving and aeronautics, HBOT is a combination of pressurized atmosphere and the inhalation of pure oxygen to promote widespread healing in the body through the oxidation and regeneration of cells.

Painless, gentle, and effective, HBOT is FDA-approved for the treatment of thirteen different illnesses, with success stories beyond the boundary of scientific endorsement being reported daily. For individuals living with chronic conditions such as diabetes and anemia, HBOT is capable of restoring life and functionality where past diagnosis would have indicated little to no hope of wellness.

10 Benefits of HBOT

Hypoxia (lack of oxygen)

Hypoxia may be generalized, affecting the whole body, or local, affecting only a region of the body. Blue-ish fingers and toes are a hallmark of hypoxia due to poor circulation, and individuals suffering from under-oxygenation are likely to exhibit this symptom even at the onset of the condition.

Common causes of hypoxia are heavy smoking, diabetes-related tissue damage, and poor circulation - all conditions which affect the body’s ability to carry and distribute oxygen where it is needed most.

HBOT can also be effective in cases of prolonged cerebral hypoxia, a condition in which the brain is obstructed from receiving adequate oxygen.

Anemia

Anemia refers to the lack of red blood cells in the body. Because of an insufficiency in red blood cells, the bloodstream is hindered from carrying enough oxygen to the body’s tissues. This deficiency most frequently causes fatigue, pallor, and weakness.

Because the nature of HBOT is the increased distribution of oxygen into hemoglobin, plasma and tissue, individuals suffering from anemia often find remarkable, sustainable results after repeated sessions of hyperbaric therapy.

Concussions (TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury)

A number of chronic neurological conditions including traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been shown to respond particularly well. There is published literature supporting HBOT’s efficacy for TBI, including human trials and animal research.

HBOT can dramatically and permanently improve symptoms of chronic TBI months or even many years after the original head injury.

Traumatic Injuries

Traumatic injuries can lead to muscle swelling and neurologic problems, especially for individuals living with damage sustained from car accidents, whiplash, falling, or prolonged obesity. Damaged blood vessels are also common by-products of such trauma, and complications may include non-healing wounds, infections, and amputations.

Numerous studies and clinical trials have shown that HBOT is effective in treating wounds that normally would not heal because of poor blood circulation. The pure oxygen and increased atmospheric pressure not only increases the supply of oxygen to all damaged tissues, but can also reduce excess fluid, improving blood flow to damaged areas.

Skin Grafts

Skin grafting - a medical procedure involving skin transplantation in the event of severe burns or injury - is another trauma procedure which can greatly benefit from the implementation of HBOT. Skin grafts require healthy, oxygenated environments to appropriately heal. In the event of poor circulation, the body may reject the skin transplant or lengthen its healing time significantly.

HBOT can be used not only to prepare the wounded area before the transplant, but to assist in the healing of the wound following the transplant. HBOT is widely regarded as an extremely effective treatment option for slow-healing wounds, due to the nature of oxygen exposure and the promotion of new cell creation within the body.

Radiation Damage

Because radiation kills cancerous cells and prevents illness from spreading throughout the body, it continues to be the most sought-after solution to combat cell mutation.

According to scientific research, around 15% of cancer patients can experience chronic complications following radiation treatment, including but not limited to tooth decay, nausea, and difficulty breathing.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may prove effective to counteract the damage accumulated after radiation therapy by assisting the body in growing new capillaries while enhancing the body’s ability to generate new cells faster in the affected areas.

Foot Ulcers (People Suffering with Diabetes)

According to one study, about 15% of people with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer in their lifetimes.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can not only treat diabetic foot ulcers, but also prevent them from forming. Poor blood circulation and nerve damage are usually the causes that lead to ulcers, and the saturation of oxygen in the bloodstream allows the body both a great offence and defense to nerve damage.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Just like oxygen, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas. If oxygen means life, carbon monoxide can lead to death by poisoning. When inhaled, carbon monoxide glues to hemoglobin, preventing it from carrying oxygen to cells and tissues.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is best treated with supplemental oxygen. HBOT forces additional oxygen deep into the blood plasma, blocking CO’s toxicity and restoring viability to all areas of the body.

Stroke

In the event of stroke, oxygen is the primary substance the brain is deprived of. When not enough oxygen gets to the brain, the intracranial tissues begin to die, leading to permanent damage and loss of function. n the ever-progressing field of medicine, neurologists now accept that the oxygen-starved brain tissues do not die immediately; instead, they sustain trauma, and it is possible for this trauma to be reversed.

Using hyperbaric oxygen therapy for stroke is increasing the supply of oxygen to the parts of the brain affected by stroke may lessen brain swelling and protect brain cells, reducing the extent of irreversible brain damage and leading to better outcomes.

Non Medical Applications

Men and women of all ages use HBOT for cellular regeneration, promotion of blood flow, and to speed up the process of recovering from sports injuries.

With HBOT, oxygen can enter into every tissue of the body and brain. This can mean a reduction in wrinkles, age spots, damaged skin cells, and sagging skin, along with shorter recovery times between sports injuries.

Another non-medical condition HBOT is sometimes used for is the treatment of moderate to severe hangovers. Because oxygen is pushed deep into the tissues during hyperbaric treatment, HBOT can alleviate migraines, fatigue, and nausea - symptoms all commonly associated with heavy drinking.

Conclusion

It is without a doubt that HBOT can significantly improve the quality of people’s lives. Where traditional medicine fails, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can supercharge the body’s ability to heal itself. Perhaps this is why around 2,000 hospitals across the country now offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and an estimated 700 non-hospital based programs offer the treatment as well.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is usually part of a comprehensive treatment plan provided with other therapies that are designed to fit your individual needs.