Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
WHAT IS HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY (HBOT)?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a method of administering pure oxygen at greater than atmospheric pressure to a patient in order to improve or correct conditions. By providing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber we are able to deliver 10-15 times more oxygen then if delivered at sea level or at normal atmospheric levels. Some of the effects this has are to promote the growth of new blood vessels, decrease swelling and inflammation, deactivate toxins, increase the body’s ability to fight infections, clear out toxins and metabolic waste products, and improve the rate of healing. HBOT should be used to complement conventional therapies and treatments.
HBOT is very cost-effective
HBOT is safe
HBOT is non-invasive
HBOT works well with other therapies
Historical Link to Diving
Initially, HBOT was developed as a treatment for diving disorders involving bubbles of gas in the tissues, such as decompression sickness and gas embolism. The chamber cures decompression sickness and gas embolism by increasing pressure, reducing the size of the gas bubbles and improving the transport of blood to downstream tissues. The high concentrations of oxygen in the tissues are beneficial in keeping oxygen-starved tissues alive, and have the effect of purging the nitrogen from the bubble, making it smaller until it consists only of oxygen which is then re-absorbed into the body. After elimination of bubbles, the pressure is gradually reduced back into atmospheric levels.
For years, conventional medicine thought of HBOT only as a treatment for decompression sickness, however, the use of HBOT is becoming increasingly common in general practice as more doctors become acquainted with new applications. Doctors now realize that HBOT has other uses, including the treatment of non-healing wounds, Carbon Monoxide poisoning, various infections, damage caused by radiation treatments, near- drowning, near-hanging, brain and nerve disorders, cardiovascular disorders; and some digestive system disorders. Unfortunately, in the US there are currently 13 approved indications for HBOT that hospitals will treat.
While most programs limit their hyperbaric treatment protocols to only those 13 indications that are reimbursed by federally funded programs, the Center for New Medicine’s treatment protocols encompass all indications that have proven beneficial effects. There are approximately 66 applications that have been noted to receive benefit from HBOT, including:
Anti-Aging – Hyperbaric oxygen therapy stimulates collagen production, which, over time, can reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and scars, and improve the skin’s texture and elasticity.
Stroke - There are 1.7 million stroke survivors in this country: survivors who often suffer devastating consequences such as paralysis, a life in a wheelchair, impairments in speech and thought. They could tremendously benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Since the early 1970’s, scientific journals have reported over 1,000 cases demonstrating a 40-100% rate of improvement for stroke patients treated with HBOT.
Traumatic Brain Injury - According to the CDC, each year an estimated 80,000 Americans survive a hospitalization for traumatic brain injury (TBI) but are discharged with TBI-related disabilities. An estimated 5.3 million Americans are living today with a TBI-related disability. After brain trauma from an accident, brain cells die or become dormant from lack of oxygen. It is thought that many of these cells can be revived through hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The enormous amount of data supporting HBOT as a viable treatment for brain injury has prompted the passage of legislation in Texas that allows for HBOT for acquired brain injury to be paid for by Medicare and insurance.
Bell’s Palsy - Bell’s palsy is a common affliction characterized by the fairly sudden onset of weakness of one side of the face. Typically, patients are offered steroids early in the course of their illness in hopes of reducing swelling of the nerve involved in facial movement. Exciting new research demonstrates that hyperbaric oxygen therapy is significantly more effective than steroids in the treatment of Bell’s palsy – both shortening the length of illness as well as increasing the likelihood of full recovery.
Cerebral Palsy - The term "cerebral palsy" describes children who experience brain trauma at birth. HBOT can treat the underlying problem in children with cerebral palsy – the damaged brain. The main differences between HBOT and traditional therapies for CP are the rapid gains over time and the impact on cognitive skills, which, in general, are not improved by PT, OT, and speech therapies.
Autism - There are numerous reports of HBOT reducing aggression and improving communication in Autistic patients.
Multiple Sclerosis - A debilitating nervous system disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) results in localized patches of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, which may eventually scar. There have been hundreds of treatments for MS. In fact, there has never been any disease in which so many treatments have been tried. Unfortunately, some of these treatments produce disastrous results. Of all the treatments ever administered, hyperbaric oxygen is the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective. Currently there are 12,000 MS patients being treated at 110 Hyperbaric centers in the United Kingdom.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia - Approximately 40 HBOT treatments followed by weekly treatments as needed seems to resolve CFS symptoms in a majority of patients, and eventually may resolve them completely.
Wound Healing - For the past 30 years, hundreds of studies have been published testifying to the remarkable healing of wounds with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Diabetic ulcers, burns, fractures and skin grafts, bone damage from radiation exposure, or simply healing from plastic surgery or sports injuries: hyperbaric oxygen works in all these cases. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a wonderful tool in a comprehensive wound-healing program.
Diabetes - Some 14-24% of diabetic patients with ischemic lower-extremity ulcers will require an amputation. Despite much effort toward the prevention of amputation in the past decade, the incidence of lower-extremity amputation in such patients continues to rise. A study conducted in the UK found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy enhanced the healing potential of ischemic, non-healing, diabetic leg ulcers and may be used as a valuable adjunct to conventional therapy when reconstructive surgery is not possible.
Sports Injuries - HBOT can significantly increase the rate of recovery for sports related injuries such as sprains and torn muscles.
Cosmetic and Periodontal Surgery - HBOT treatments administered pre- and post- surgery can reduce healing times up to 50%.
Meniere’s Disease – Patients diagnosed with Meniere’s disease typically suffer from recurrent attacks of disabling vertigo with progressive hearing loss. Until recently, therapeutic options were limited to either aggressive surgical or medical approaches.
Recent research confirms usefulness of HBOT in Meniere’s disease. HBOT-treated patients experienced significant improvement in attacks of vertigo as well as hearing. These improvements continued when these patients were re-evaluated two years after the hyperbaric oxygen treatment program.
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