Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (or HBOT is a medical procedure that provides an oxygen-rich body in pressures that are higher than normal. HBOT is an non-invasive procedure that allows for increased oxygen levels in all parts within the human body. Although many people think of the hyperbaric chamber for underwater divers with the bends, HBOT offers many different medical benefits and can be used to treat a variety of ailments. HBOT
What are the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers?
Hyperbaric chambers allow for oxygen at high pressure and pure to patients. Most often, you’ll find two kinds of chambers. Mono-place chambers are transparent, plexiglass tube that lets the patient lie at ease in a comfortable position while listening to music or watching television. The chamber is filled with oxygen that is purified at a higher than the normal pressure of air. Multi-place chambers are larger chamber that is designed to accommodate up 12 patients. The patients are placed in big recliners and breathe in oxygen via the mask or hood. They are able to get up and move about, socialize with other patients, enjoy a television show and listen to their music. The chamber that your treatment is based on your specific condition. For instance, in the case that require wound healing, the single-chamber has the advantage of ensuring that oxygen is absorbed directly from the skin and through breathing.
What is the role of oxygen in the Human Body?
In the end, your body requires oxygen in order for survival. Simply put, when you breathe and breathe in, oxygen is absorbed into your lung. The oxygen then passes through the tiny air sacs inside the lungs called alveoli. When it reaches alveoli, oxygen moves to capillary blood vessels in which hemoglobin found in red blood cells circulates oxygen. The oxygen, which is contained in hemoglobin in your blood, is then transported to your heart where it is transported to the heart to provide oxygen to the cells in your body. The mitochondria in the cell transform the oxygen to energy and provide energy to the cells. In normal circumstances oxygen is transported by hemoglobin, and only tiny amounts transported through the plasma of the blood.
What makes HBOT Different from Regular Breathing?
Oxygen is responsible for around 11% of what that you take in each day. But, the majority of air that you take through is nitrogen. The amount of oxygen you breathe is dependent on the pressure of the atmosphere at the point you’re located. For instance at sea level atmospheric pressure is one ATA which is 14.7 pounds for every square inches (psi). When you climb higher in elevation, the pressure decreases which makes it difficult for your body take oxygen into the body. Regions above sea level experience air that has a lower concentration of oxygen. The body then struggles to take in all the oxygen available as it can from air.
When you are in an HBOT system the air contains 100 percent oxygen , and the pressure in the atmosphere increases and allows more oxygen to be absorbed by the body every breath. The oxygen that is absorbed is absorbed into the hemoglobin in the blood and also into the plasma. This increases oxygen circulation throughout the body, and also to the areas that require more energy, for example, healing injuries.
What does HBOT do to the Body?
Due to this rise in oxygen the hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments provide many advantages to your body.
The increase in oxygen levels in the body by 10 times what is normal
Allows oxygen to flow in the brain thereby increasing the production and availability of neurotransmitters.
Enhances the amount of stem cells circulated throughout the body.
Reduces hypoxia-prone areas by stimulating the growth of capillaries
Increases the number of connective tissue cells that aid in wound healing and encourage the growth of new skin cells.
Increases the immune system’s immune response
Anti-inflammatory properties on the body
Treatment of injuries from sports and trauma
triggers healing responses to radiation-induced damage to the bones as well as soft tissue and organs.
It inhibits the growth of certain bacteria, and kills non-oxygen resistant anaerobic organisms
Improves the performance of certain medicines and antibiotics.
Eliminates gas bubbles which cause “the the bends” out of the bloodstream
Enhances the elimination of foreign bodies from bloodstreams, including bacteria as well as dead cells, fungi and waste by-products
Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy help me?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a treatment for various medical illnesses. In the end, Federal Drug Administration, or FDA has approved and determined 14 conditions that are eligible for HBOT treatment. Insurance policies will cover treatments with hyperbaric oxygen therapy for most FDA-approved ailments. Apart from condition that is FDA approved, HBOT has shown success in treating a variety of other conditions. In this instance, HBOT is off-label and generally not covered by medical insurance currently. However, this doesn’t mean that HBOT isn’t beneficial for your condition. Doctors prescribe a variety of drugs and treatments that are not on the label daily with great results.