Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is often referred to as HBOT. It is a type of medical treatment that involves placing the body in a sealed chamber. The chamber is filled with nothing but pure oxygen that continuously flows at a rate of 100 percent during treatment with no dilution. The hyperbaric chamber is pressurized up to three times the average amount of normal atmospheric pressure. The hyperbaric chamber allows for an isolated form of oxygen therapy so it can penetrate the body faster than traditional oxygen therapy via a mask or nasal cannula. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy assists with taking in 100 percent oxygen to increase the overall amount of oxygen that circulates throughout the body.

What The Hyperbaric Chamber Is Used For

The patient who benefits from using a hyperbaric chamber may suffer from a variety of health issues. Some of these issues may be carbon monoxide poisoning, radiation therapy damage, unhealed wounds, burns, sports injuries, decompression sickness, flesh-eating bacteria, embolism, infection, anemia, seizures, smoke inhalation and blood loss. Many diabetic patients seek hyperbaric chamber therapy. The benefit is increased oxygen levels to areas of the body such as the legs that may have nerve damage due to diabetic neuropathy. Most patients visit the chamber more than once as a part of a long-term treatment plan pertaining to their illness and their physicians' recommendations. There are generally no serious side effects from using the chamber except that some patients may experience pressure or hear a popping sound in the ears. Some patients complain of being lightheaded for a few minutes after the procedure.