What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized room. In a hyperbaric oxygen therapy room, the air pressure is raised up to three times higher than normal air pressure. Under these conditions, your lungs can gather up to three times more oxygen than would be possible breathing under normal air pressure. The blood carries this oxygen throughout the body, stimulating the release of substances called growth factors and stem cells, which promote healing.
Why It’s Done
The body’s tissues require an adequate supply of oxygen to function. When tissue is injured, it requires even more oxygen to survive. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment increases the amount of oxygen your blood can carry, which temporarily restores normal levels of blood gases and tissue function to promote healing and fight infection.
Risks
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment is generally a safe procedure, and complications are rare. But it does carry some risk, as with any medical procedure. Potential complications include temporary nearsightedness, middle and inner ear injuries, organ damage caused by air pressure changes, and seizures as a result of too much oxygen.
How to Prepare
Pure oxygen can cause fire if there is a source of ignition, so there is a source of ignition and adequate fuel. Because of this, you can’t bring any items into the hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber that could ignite a fire. Additionally, you may be asked to remove any petroleum based hair or wound care products.
What to Expect
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment is typically performed as an outpatient procedure and does not require hospitalization. Hyperbaric oxygen treatments can be received in either a unit designed for one person, or a room designed to accommodate several people. You may wear a hood or mask to administer the oxygen to you. During treatment, you may feel a fullness in your ears due to the increased pressure, and after treatment, you may feel slightly lightheaded.
Results
To be effective, hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy requires more than one session. The number of sessions depends on your medical condition. Hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatment is completely effective for certain conditions, but in most cases it is used in conjunction with additional therapies and medications.
Good refereneces: www.florida-oxygen.com