How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Works Wonders for Wound Healing

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been used for a long time to help wounds heal faster. But in recent years, more and more doctors have been using it because it has become more widely accepted and popular in mainstream medicine. The increase in the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is supported by its proven effectiveness in promoting faster and improved wound healing. 

Let’s admit it. Whether it was some fresh wound we got while cutting onions in the kitchen or a deep, decaying injury resulting from bacterial infection, many of us have had some type of physical wound 

In athletic sports, wounds are almost a given. 

Consider that nearly one in three childhood injuries are associated with athletic sports. According to the National Safety Council statistics, 5- to 14-year-olds experience injuries at higher rates than any other age group. Moreover, males get injured at rates that are twice that of females. 

Don’t get this wrong; wounds can be frustrating—and can significantly decrease quality of life. The following are some of the most common health effects of injuries on quality of life.

  • Lack of mobility
  • Discomfort
  • Pain
  • Social isolation
  • Lack of adequate sleep
  • Unpleasant odor statistics
  • Lack of the ability to work

However, thanks to medical interventions, most wounds are treated relatively quickly. Almost 90% of injury victims are treated and immediately discharged. And healing with hyperbaric is increasingly becoming an essential part of this success.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Recovery?

Also called hyperbaric chamber injury recovery, hyperbaric oxygen recovery (HBOT) is a body treatment option where the patient breathes a very high oxygen concentration in a high-pressure chamber.

Oxygen has long been established as a catalyst in the healing and recovery of the body, including essential physiological and regenerative processes. Some of the regenerative processes associated with wound healing—for which oxygen plays an important role—include:

Therefore, doctors use hyperbaric oxygen therapy to facilitate wound-healing processes—including those mentioned above. The goal is to infuse more oxygen molecules into the body’s tissues. The process is called tissue oxygenation.

What Happens When You’re Injured?

When you get injured, an immediate inflammatory process begins as the body responds. Consequently, you’re likely to experience any or all of the following:

  • Swelling around the affected area
  • Warmth in the surrounding area
  • Pain
  • Redness of the surrounding skin

During inflammation due to some injury, the following occurs in your body—behind the scenes.

Injury and Inflammation

When you get injured, your body will try to increase blood flow to the affected part as the blood has several healing properties, including;

  • Oxygen
  • White blood cells
  • Nutrients

Your blood vessels dilate and expand to take more blood into the area. Also, the blood vessels in the surrounding tissues become more porous and leaky. This condition happens because the body wants the essential blood components, like white blood cells and oxygen, to reach the affected cells. As a result of the increased porousness of blood vessels in the surrounding tissues, water and other body fluids percolate into the affected area, causing swelling. The rush of blood to the area and other enhanced physiological activities around the surrounding tissue will bring warmth and redness. Also, your body may fear that you’ll lose blood and set off blood clotting processes around the area. But with time, problems related to inadequate oxygen supply to the affected area can arise.

Additional Read: What Conditions Can Be Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Wounds and Inadequate Oxygen Supply

After the initial inflammatory response involving the increased blood supply to the affected area, the oxygen level rises at first—due to the increase in blood supply—then falls. The reason oxygen levels fall are:

  • The inflammatory response involving the movement of several immune system cells to the injured area precipitates faster consumption of oxygen, hence quicker depletion.
  • Tissue damage resulting from the injury may also damage blood vessels around the area. Consequently, they may need more oxygen levels.

While the body can tolerate or even thrive in this low oxygen level environment for a while, wound healing processes may slow down and taper off when this low oxygen condition prolongs. For instance, collagen, the main structural protein that makes up the skin, can only be made with sufficient oxygen. Wounds that would take one week to heal may now take a month or more. Worse, they may become chronic—or cause sepsis due to blood infection. According to a study cited in the Lancet, sepsis is the number one cause of hospital deaths in the United States. That’s where Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy comes in.

What Wounds Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Heal

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a revolutionary medical intervention that unlocks the body’s ability to heal diabetic wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, crush injuries, and chronic non-healing wounds. This treatment’s single most significant advantage is that it can stimulate the healing process quickly and effectively. It works by administering high concentrations of pure oxygen in a pressurized environment to cause a nearly twofold increase in the oxygen concentration in your blood. It helps regenerate damaged cells and form new blood vessels, thus ensuring faster healing with minimal complications. It also speeds up the formation of healthy granulation tissue around the wound, promoting better healing. With its cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art medical intervention, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can effectively solve diabetic wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, crush injuries, and chronic non-healing wounding issues.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Increases Oxygen Levels To The Wounded Tissues

If you’ve got a wound and choose to use Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, you must get inside a hyperbaric chamber. A hyperbaric chamber is not like your regular surgical table. It’s not intimidating. Instead, it’s comfortable and relaxing. Inside this chamber, oxygen is at 100% concentration (compared to 21% present in the room air we breathe), and air pressure increases 1.5 to 3 times the normal atmospheric pressure (1 atm). The level of oxygen that dissolves into the tissues depends on two things:

  • Oxygen concentration
  • Air pressure

If these two properties are optimal, more oxygen gets into your tissues, speeding up the healing process. Also, with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, the procedure is not localized to a specific area. You don’t put only the injured part inside the hyperbaric chamber. Instead, your whole body gets inside. As a result of this, it receives the benefit of increased oxygen. The increased oxygen level will also have significant effect on wound healing. It stimulates the activities of mitochondria—the cell organelles responsible for energy production. The reason this is critical is that healing is an energy-demanding process. Hyperbaric therapy and the subsequent higher levels of oxygen also:

  • Stimulates the production of more stem cells required for healing
  • Stimulates the body’s antimicrobial activity hence frustrating the growth of harmful bacteria
  • Facilitates the growth of new blood vessels
  • Promotes the growth of collagen—the protein that makes up the skin’s structure.

Other Medical Conditions and Injuries Where Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Be Used

The following are some of the other conditions where hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be helpful:

  • Severe anemia: When the number of red blood cells in the body drop, the oxygen level in the body will likewise fall, hence the need for oxygen therapy
  • Decompression sickness, common with a scuba or deep-sea divers
  • Radiation injury: Radiation therapy may lead to extensive tissue damage, for which hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be useful
  • Gas gangrene and clostridial myositis
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Chronic wounds
  • Fatal soft tissue infections
  • Refractory osteomyelitis: Infection of the bone marrow
  • Thermal burns
  • Sudden deafness
  • Sudden vision loss

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for athletes helps them reduce their recovery time or just to improve their general well-being. Other amazing benefits of HBOT for athletes include more energy and mental clarity. NBA star LeBron James is among athletes who practice healing with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, especially to hasten recovery. A tweet of him in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber was widely shared on the internet.

Additional Read: The Benefits of HBOT for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

At what point in a medical treatment plan is it recommended to undergo Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

It is typically recommended when standard treatments have been exhausted, and effects are still limited in improving the patient’s health. Poor circulation, slow healing processes, and other conditions can be addressed when this therapy is utilized. HBOT involves surrounding a person’s body with 100% oxygen inside a pressurized chamber to ensure oxygen gets absorbed into the bloodstream faster and more efficiently than conventional breathing techniques. In cases like decompression illness, carbon monoxide poisoning, recovery following surgery, and chronic conditions like diabetes or ulcers, becoming a candidate for hyperbaric oxygen may be advised by your healthcare provider to fully maximize the effects of treatment in helping you improve your overall health condition.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: What You Should Expect

What can you expect and be prepared for when considering hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

  • Expect to be in a resting position similar to when you’re relaxing on your bed.
  • You can expect to see it all around you.
  • Your hearing could experience a slight pressure similar to that experienced on a flight. In most cases, this is nothing to worry about. Still, if you feel ear pain, don’t hesitate to tell the technician who’s doing the therapy.
  • Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not a one-off treatment session. It can extend to two months, 4-5 days a week.
  • A single hyperbaric therapy session may last about two hours.
  • After the procedure, the doctor will take your blood pressure, pulse, and blood sugar level if you have diabetes.
  • You can leave immediately after the session.

Do You Want To Use Hyperbaric Therapy for Healing or General Well-being?

Wounds and injuries can make us lose days and months of income-generating labor. Plus, not to mention:

  • The pain— that makes us grimace and weep.
  • Isolation and confinement keep us away from friends and social events; and
  • Frustration and anxiety when your wound doesn’t heal as quickly as you’d want

But time—contrary to what we’ve been told—may not heal all wounds. Hyperbaric medicine can help you recover faster to quickly resume chasing your dreams and living your life to the fullest. At NexGen Hyperbaric, we make hyperbaric oxygen therapy technology accessible to people who need it to help needy patients. Accredited by the Undersea Hyperbaric and Medical Society, we have state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, experienced staff, rigorous training, and unmatched patient care and operational safety standards. Did you get a wound that’s taking too long to heal? Contact us and learn how NextGen Hyperbaric can help you heal.

Additional Read- HYPERBARIC OXYGEN TREATMENT CLINIC: 9 ESSENTIAL FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING HBOT CLINIC

The Benefits of HBOT for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can result from many experiences. While most people associate this disorder with combat PTSD, trauma from the death of a loved one, sexual assault, natural disasters, and other events can all cause PTSD. Nevertheless, many veterans with PTSD also have a co-occurring traumatic brain injury (TBI) that worsens symptoms and makes a recovery doubly challenging.

Recently, hyperbaric oxygen therapy for PTSD has demonstrated positive effects for people with PTSD, including increased capacity for healing and improved neurological functioning. Since this treatment mobilizes stem cells and neurological healing, many physical changes from PTSD respond well to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). Call to explore your treatment options and consider HBOT for PTSD today.

While exploring hyperbaric oxygen treatment for PTSD, understanding the scope of this disorder and treatment can help you evaluate whether this treatment sounds right for you.

Overview

Recent studies from Dr. Paul Harsh and the Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center support the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen treatment for PTSD. From healing physiological changes in the brain to improving neurological functioning, these studies demonstrated significant relief from PTSD after hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

PTSD Symptoms

PTSD symptoms exhibit a spectrum of impacts. The main categories of PTSD symptoms include:

  • Memories: Traumatic events establish harsh memories that can haunt PTSD patients for years. Everyday images and experiences can trigger powerful flashbacks that cause severe emotional reactions and suffering.
  • Avoidance: PTSD patients might try to avoid situations, people, or places that could potentially trigger their trauma responses. This avoidance can adversely impact sufferers’ relationships with themselves, their environment, and their loved ones.
  • Changes in mood and thinking: Many mood changes and thinking patterns present in PTSD resemble other mental illnesses like anxiety and depression. Thus, these changes might be difficult to distinguish, and PTSD can co-occur with other mental health disorders.
  • Changes in physical and emotional reactions: Night terrors, hypervigilance, aggression, and instability are just some of the physical and emotional manifestations of PTSD. These are perhaps some of the most noticeable and violent symptoms of PTSD.

Treatment Options for PTSD

In the past, only a few treatment methods existed for PTSD. Recent developments are expanding the canon of acceptable treatment practices, including HBOT for PTSD.

Traditional

Traditional treatment for PTSD included psychotherapy and prescribed medications. While many assume cognitive behavioral therapy or talk therapy are the main treatment methods, more options are available.

Some other therapeutic approaches to treating PTSD include:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): A therapist helps patients talk about and process their experiences to change their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
  • Exposure response prevention (ERP): The patient faces their trauma in a safe space to become more resilient.
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): This therapy allows the patient to reprocess traumatic memories.
  • Stress inoculation training (SIT): The patient learns coping skills to reduce anxiety and stress responses.

Many doctors combine these approaches with medications to produce positive impacts and improve patients’ symptoms.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for PTSD involves using an oxygen chamber that creates 100% oxygen exposure to the patient. Throughout 80- to 300-minute exposures, rising oxygen levels mobilize stem cells and neurological healing to improve cognitive function and traumatic brain injuries from PTSD.

HBOT for PTSD offers transformative results, as evidenced by Dr. Harsh’s study, which resulted in physiological brain healing in his test subjects.

Why HBOT for PTSD?

HBOT generates groundbreaking data in clinical studies for PTSD patients from various backgrounds. Because of the traditionally tricky nature of dealing with PTSD, this treatment is an excellent option for struggling patients.

A Case Study on the Effectiveness of HBOT on PTSD Patients

A deeper dive into Dr. Paul Harsh’s case study on the effectiveness of HBOT for PTSD demonstrates the results possible from this treatment. 

In his clinical trial, Dr. Paul Harsh studied 29 active-duty or retired military personnel with PTSD and a mild traumatic brain injury. After 40 sessions of HBOT, over 50% of the participants no longer met the diagnostic threshold for PTSD. Furthermore, 10 out of 12 patients who initially expressed suicidal thoughts no longer had ideations.

Corroborating data from the Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center showed similar efficacy with HBOT for PTSD. These data sets demonstrate HBOT’s potential as a primary treatment for PTSD.

How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Works for PTSD Patients

PTSD patients seeking hyperbaric oxygen therapy will engage in multiple sessions in the hyperbaric chamber, where oxygen levels are three times higher than standard outdoor air pressure. These exposures increase oxygen levels in the blood, mobilize stem cells, and bolster neurological healing to alleviate the severity and impact of PTSD.

HBOT also has proven effects in healing physiological brain injuries. For PTSD patients, changes in the hippocampus, insular cortex, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis all contribute to their disorder. Pure oxygen exposure can expedite physiological healing in the brain by encouraging neuroplasticity and enabling long-term healing from TBIs.

What to Expect During and After Your HBOT Treatment

For a hyperbaric oxygen session for PTSD, you will go to a hospital or an outpatient facility with a hyperbaric chamber. If your session is in a one-person chamber, you will lie on a table that slides into a plastic enclosure, similar to an MRI machine. You may feel pressure in your ears as the oxygen increases, but there is no pain or discomfort exists.

After your session, the medical professionals will record your vitals, and then you can leave. Some patients feel tired or hungry, but these side effects are normal.

Key Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for PTSD Patients

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for PTSD offers significant benefits for patients, including:

  • Increased mental acuity
  • Decreased physical afflictions like migraines
  • Improved sleep quality
  • Improved blood flow
  • Decreased anxiety
  • Stabilized mood
  • Improved quality of life

Limitations

Although the impacts of HBOT on PTSD patients are far-reaching, there are some important limitations to acknowledge. First, HBOT should exist in conjunction with psychotherapy. While oxygen exposures mobilize brain healing, this treatment doesn’t teach the emotional reflectivity and trauma processing integral to many therapeutic approaches. 

Despite improving PTSD symptoms, patients should not assume that HBOT offers an instant cure. Processing trauma requires hard work. However, treatments like HBOT for PTSD can make that work more effective.

Additional Read: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) For Depression

State-of-the-Art Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treatments From NexGen Hyperbaric LLC

Patients don’t have to go through the challenges and limitations of PTSD alone or without treatments. NexGen Hyperbaric LLC offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy for PTSD, which may significantly improve your brain functionality, TBIs, and PTSD. Our team can guide you through the treatment process and administer treatment to help relieve your suffering from PTSD.

For more information about hyperbaric oxygen therapy for PTSD, call NexGen Hyperbaric LLC at (888) 567-4302.

Can Oxygen Therapy Be Used in Cancer Treatment?

Oxygen is quite easy to overlook and be taken for granted. It’s a colorless gas that’s all around us, accounting for roughly 21% of the Earth’s atmosphere. Oxygen is the world’s third most abundant element and an essential component of life.

Although there may not appear to be any link between oxygen and cancer, there may be more than meets the eye. Keep reading to learn more about cancer oxygen therapy.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)?

Oxygen therapy is a catch-all phrase for a variety of medical treatments aimed at introducing oxygen into the body, primarily to overwhelm tumors and cancer cells. Normal human cells require just the proper amount of oxygen to survive and thrive, as is well known and researched. When you change altitudes or do aerobic exercises, your body’s mechanisms govern how much oxygen your cells get, ensuring that your cells adapt and obtain enough oxygen.

Although the interaction between oxygen and cancer cells is complex, cancer cells are frequently deficient in oxygen. According to studies on human and animal breast cancer cells, tumor cells may be able to take advantage of this. Tumor cells had an increased likelihood of surviving when exposed to low oxygen levels, which aided their ability to spread through the bloodstream.

Doctors may be able to kill a cancer cell and regulate or limit tumor cell proliferation with oxygen treatment. Other forms of treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, may be made more effective by introducing oxygen to cancer cells.

Multiple types of oxygen therapy are used in cancer treatments, but one of the most common is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

This oxygen therapy involves breathing pure oxygen while staying within a pressurized hyperbaric oxygen chamber (O2). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can aid in the improvement of cancer treatment outcomes and the healing of side effects such as radiation necrosis produced by radiation therapy.

Additional Read: Common myths you need to know about hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Can Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treat Cancer?

There has been a lot of research into the use of hyperbaric oxygen as a cancer treatment, with mixed or inconclusive results. In 2015, Boston scientists made waves with research that found that flushing tumors with oxygen may improve the efficacy of some medicines.

However, the American Cancer Society stated in the same article that “available scientific evidence does not support assertions that infusing oxygen-releasing compounds into a person’s body is useful in cancer treatment.” According to a 2012 assessment by Norwegian experts, hyperbaric oxygen reduced the growth of some malignancies but not others. More research is needed, according to the authors.

The ability of oxygen therapy to treat cancer and some of the negative effects of cancer surgery and other treatments are still being studied in clinical trials.

The outcomes in shrinking cancer cells themselves are essentially non-existent for the money and effort invested.

HBOT can, however, help with major issues that arise as a result of cancer treatment. If you’ve had radiation therapy, you’ve almost certainly suffered side effects. That is, you experience troubles as a result of the cancer treatment, not cancer itself.

How Can HBOT Help Cancer Patients?

There are multiple ways in which HBOT can help cancer patients. Here’s a quick overview of what treatment with HBOT can do:

  • Increases oxygen levels in locations where they have fallen below normal due to illness or injury.
  • Stimulates the formation of new blood vessels so that more oxygen and nutrients can be delivered to the tissues.
  • Improves the white blood cells’ ability to fight bacteria and prevent illness.
  • Reduces any swelling, pressure, and pain associated with wounds.

HBOT treatment can help in those situations where body tissues have low oxygen levels.

HBOT treatment may be offered to cancer patients for the following reasons:

  • Treating the long-term side effects of radiotherapy
  • Issues with skin grafts
  • Infections and wounds that are difficult to treat.

Can Cancer Radiation-Related Health Problems Benefit from HBOT?

The oxygen supply to tissues in the treated area may change as a result of radiotherapy. This is because radiotherapy affects both cancer cells and normal cells, and blood vessels.

Radiotherapy has the potential to harm tiny blood vessels in the treated area. The amount of blood delivered to that area may be reduced as a result of this. It becomes more difficult for oxygen and nutrients to enter the tissues as a result of this.

The tissues that are impacted may get weaker and break down over time (ulcerate). Some tissues may perish totally in rare cases (radiation necrosis). Radiation damage can develop gradually over months or years.

The oxygen supply to injured tissue is increased with HBOT treatment. This promotes the formation of new blood vessels and the healing of tissues.

According to research, HBOT treatment may be beneficial in alleviating the following side effects of radiation.

Chronic radiation cystitis

Chronic radiation cystitis is a condition that occurs after exposure to radiation.
Some types of pelvic cancer are treated using radiotherapy, which is a type of radiation. The pelvis is defined as the region between the hips. The bladder is located in the pelvic region. As a result, radiation to this area may occasionally result in long-term irritation of the urinary bladder (chronic cystitis).

HBOT treatment may be beneficial in alleviating these symptoms. It may be used in situations where other treatments have failed.

Osteoradionecrosis

Cancers of the head and neck are frequently treated with radiotherapy.

The tissues in the immediate vicinity of this location are easily injured. A surgical procedure performed prior to radiotherapy can enhance the likelihood of damage occurring. In rare cases, a section of bone is impacted, and it begins to break down and die. Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is the medical term for this condition. Damage to the bones can also occur when radiotherapy is administered to other parts of the body, such as the chest or the pelvis.

Following radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, you may be prescribed HBOT treatment. The goal is to aid in the prevention of injury to the jawbone.

The effects of chronic radiation on the bowel

Radiotherapy used to treat cancers of the pelvis has the potential to harm the bowel. The gut is extremely sensitive, and radiation damage can occasionally result in long-term illness.

When alternative therapies have failed to relieve these symptoms, HBOT treatment may be an option to consider.

What to Expect From Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment

In most cases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is conducted as an outpatient operation, although it can also be provided while you are hospitalized.

Hyperbaric oxygen chambers are generally classified into two categories:

  • A single-person unit with a single bed. During a single session, you lie down on a table that slides into a transparent plastic compartment.
  • A room that can accommodate a large number of people. You can either sit or lie down in a multiperson hyperbaric oxygen room, which is often the size of a big hospital waiting room. You may be provided with oxygen by wearing a mask over your face or by wearing a lightweight, clear hood over your head.

The benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy are the same whether you’re in a single or group setting for the treatment.

Air pressure in the room is approximately two to three times greater than the typical air pressure during therapy. As a result of the increased air pressure, you may experience a transient sensation of fullness in your ears, similar to what you might experience on a flight or at a high altitude. It is possible to alleviate this sensation by yawning or swallowing.

Most conditions require hyperbaric oxygen therapy to be administered over a two-hour period. Through the course of your treatment, members of your healthcare team will keep an eye on you and the therapy unit.

Your therapy team evaluates you by taking your blood pressure and pulse, as well as checking in your ears, and performing other procedures. The level of your blood glucose is measured if you have diabetes.

Following your treatment, you may feel a little sleepy or hungry. Normal activities shouldn’t be hindered as a result of this.

You will most likely require more than one session of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in order to get the benefits. The number of sessions you will need is determined by your medical condition. Some illnesses, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, may be addressed in as few as three office visits. Others, such as nonhealing wounds, may necessitate 40 or more treatments to be effective.

If hyperbaric oxygen therapy is found to be beneficial in treating authorized medical problems, it is usually part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes various therapies and medications that are customized to meet your specific requirements.

Additional Read: What Conditions Can Be Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Contact NexGen Hyperbaric Today

If you’re suffering from a problem caused by cancer radiation and all other therapies have failed, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be the next step for you to consider trying. If you or your doctor are thinking about doing so, contact NexGen Hyperbaric today.

Studies and Research

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4635883/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/how_cancer_stem_cells_thrive_when_oxygen_is_scarce_
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11523-012-0233-x
https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2019/05/02/tackling-side-effects-in-head-and-neck-cancer-treatment-the-end-of-the-road-for-hyperbaric-oxygen/
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/constipation/gi-complications-pdq
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891584916311376

Why Athletes Should Consider Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

The life of an athlete is anything but boring. They’re constantly competing, training, or achieving new goals to say that athletes have busy lives is an understatement. From team sports to strength training, running to swimming, athletes push themselves to the limit and sometimes even further than that on a regular basis. While being athletic is a great way to stay healthy, live longer, and achieve your personal goals, it doesn’t come without risk.

Injury is an inevitable part of being an athlete, no matter how good you are at your chosen sport. The body can only take so much before it needs to rest, and accidents can happen at a moment’s notice. While the benefits far outweigh the pitfalls when it comes to athleticism, knowing how to properly take care of your body and your mental health puts you a step ahead of the game.

Thankfully, advances in medical and therapeutic technology mean that athletes now have many more options regarding their chosen form of therapy than they used to. Treatments and therapies are constantly evolving; there’s always something new and improved becoming available. From massage to laser therapy, electrical stimulation to cryotherapy, the options are almost endless when it comes to treating injuries and staying in top physical shape.

One particularly helpful form of therapy that’s been around longer than you might think is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Many athletes (and others alike) swear by this treatment to keep themselves fit, improve their performance, improve recovery time from injuries, and maintain optimal mental health.

So, what is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy? If you’re like so many others that are wondering what Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is about, you’re in the right place. This post will answer your questions, give you a little background, and help you to determine if Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy might be right for your athletic needs:

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (or HBOT) is a form of treatment that’s used to aid in the healing of various ailments. It was introduced briefly in the early 20th century to treat the flu, though its use wasn’t widespread until more recently. While many people hear the words Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber and think of celebrities using them to preserve their image, the benefits of HBOT go much further than you might think.

HBOT is a process in which the patient enters a special chamber known as a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, which is a sealed and sterile environment. Once inside the chamber, the patient is immersed in pure oxygen at a higher concentration rate (around 1.5 to 3 times higher) than what is found in the air we typically breathe — which actually contains more nitrogen than oxygen.

Sessions can last up to two hours depending on the patient and the condition they’re receiving treatment for. During this time, the patient can relax inside the chamber, breathing deeply in order to absorb the oxygen as fully as possible. Most patients require repeat sessions for their treatment to be considered complete, but this isn’t always necessary.

Additional Read: What Conditions Can Be Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

How does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Work?

When we breathe, oxygen is carried to the blood through our lungs. When the oxygen concentration is higher, more oxygen can reach the areas within the body that need it most. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy works by supplying the oxygen-starved tissues and cells in the body with a high concentration of pure oxygen, which prevents further damage from occurring, as well as helping to reverse the damage that has already been done.

So, how exactly does HBOT work to help people heal? Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is beneficial to healing in a variety of ways, including the following:

  • Reintroduces oxygen to inflamed areas of tissue, preventing tissue death
  • Prevents reperfusion injury, or what happens when blood flow returns to oxygen-deprived tissue (resulting in extreme pain)
  • Destroys the toxins in certain bacteria while strengthening white blood cells (the body’s defense against infections)
  • Aids in new blood vessel formation, encouraging collagen production and new skin cell growth
  • Reverses the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning

These are just a few of the issues that HBOT can help with. Chances are, if the condition is associated with blood flow or lack of oxygen, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help!

Why Do Athletes Choose Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Athletes whether professional or recreational demand a lot from their bodies as a general rule. Everyone knows the story of the all-star quarter back who blew his knee or the promising point guard with the ankle injury; it’s a given that injuries happen in sports, as well as all other forms of exercise. The difference between being out for the season or a couple of weeks depends on the athlete’s recovery, as well as their general physical condition. That’s where HBOT comes in.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a treatment used by many athletes, as a form of recovery from injuries as well as a preventative measure and a way to boost overall health. Lebron James, Hall of Fame legend Dave Robinson, and Russel Wilson are some examples of athletes who use HBOT to keep themselves physically fit, recover from injury, and perform at their best.

Some of the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for athletes include the following:

Increased Recovery for Wound Healing

Certain types of wounds are healed faster when exposed to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. This is because the oxygen in the affected area is often depleted, increasing the risk for tissue death among other complications. Compression injuries, cranial abscesses, and other trauma-related injuries are all candidates for HBOT.

Increase in Physical Performance Capabilities

Athletes that participate in HBOT may also see improvement in their performance. The presence of a high concentration of oxygen in the blood works as an injury preventative, allowing muscles to function optimally. Also, the boost of oxygen to brain cells helps athletes make more effective decisions on short notice, giving them an advantage over more fatigued players.

Improved Mental Health

As mentioned above, the brain also benefits from increased oxygen flow. This can also be helpful with regards to mental health, as neural pathways and blood flow to the brain can be improved through the use of HBOT. Brain fog — caused by mental illness, injury, or other causes — can also be remedied through increasing oxygen flow to the brain.

Reduced Pain and Swelling

HBOT remedies swelling by increasing oxygen flow to the tissues in the swollen area. This relieves pressure, thus relieving pain, as well as decreasing the risk of necrosis (or tissue death) due to prolonged oxygen deprivation. The extra boost of oxygen to the blood also aids in pain relief, as all wounds need oxygen to heal whether internal or external.

Improved Quality of Sleep

Many people wake partially throughout the night due to a lack of oxygen without ever realizing it. Because of the extra demands on their bodies, athletes especially need quality, restorative sleep to help their bodies heal. Studies have shown that increased oxygen promotes deep sleep, which is the type of sleep the body needs in order to regenerate, restore, and heal itself at the end of the day. 

Additional Read: Amazing Benefits Of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy For Athletes

Interested in Learning About the Benefits for your Athletic Needs?

While it was initially created to help patients with the flu, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has blossomed into a treatment for a wide array of conditions over the last century. Used by athletes for wound healing and increased performance capabilities, it’s come a long way from its original purpose. 

While it was once seen as a strange practice that was only used by celebrities with too much money, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has become widely available to the public to help them return to optimal health; both physically and mentally. Now used in wound care centers as a treatment for burns, crush injuries, and various other ailments, it’s hard to believe that this hugely beneficial form of treatment was under wraps for so long.

HBOT is beneficial not only in wound healing and performance, but also in mental health, resolving sleep issues, reducing pain, reversing carbon monoxide poisoning, and preventing tissue death, just to name a few. Its benefits continue to expand along with the number of people who become aware of its healing properties.

Find out more about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy with a consultation at NexGen Hyperbaric! A premium HBOT provider, they’re available to discuss your needs and offer you solutions you might not have found elsewhere. 

Treating everything from wound healing to PTSD and much more, NexGen Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has cutting edge technology, highly knowledgeable providers, and all the answers you need to determine if HBOT is the right option for you.

Whether you have an existing injury that just won’t quite heal or are just interested in taking your health to the next level, you’ll find what you’re looking for at NexGen Hyperbaric. To achieve optimal health in all the areas you need, contact NexGen Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for a consultation today. Friendly, knowledgeable staff are standing by to assist you!

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3495382/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181212134432.htm
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/how-lungs-work
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK253746/

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Clinic: 9 Essential Factors to Consider When Selecting HBOT Clinic

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) treatment is gaining momentum in the medical industry worldwide to heal patients from various physical ailments. Every patient has one question: “How do I choose the right Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) near me?”

Patients must understand the process of using hyperbaric oxygen therapy before they can choose the right clinic. Patients and caregivers must also ensure that the facility’s staff adheres to specific requirements when operating hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

As not all clinics are the same and can provide the same level of treatment, so it’s imperative that you choose the best Hyperbaric Clinic (HBOT) that will help you achieve your healthcare goals.

To make it easy to consider your options, this guide highlights all the essential factors that will help you make the final call while choosing the best HBOT clinic.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the process of breathing 100% pure oxygen under pressure. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is used to treat decompression sickness, a possible risk when scuba diving. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can also treat serious infections, blood vessel bubbles, wounds that are not healing due to radiation injury or diabetes.

The air pressure in a HBOT chamber is two to three times that of normal. These conditions allow your lungs to take in more oxygen than it would be possible to breathe pure oxygen at normal pressure. This extra oxygen is carried throughout the body by your blood. It helps to fight bacteria and stimulate growth factors and stem cell release, which promote healing.

Why is Extra Oxygen Necessary for Healing?

To function correctly, your body tissues require a good amount of oxygen, as tissues that have been injured will require more oxygen to survive. The amount of oxygen in your blood increases with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The therapy can be repeated as scheduled, and the extra oxygen levels will continue to encourage normal tissue oxygen levels, even after therapy is done.

Many medical conditions can be treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. It is used in different ways by medical institutions. If you have any of the conditions mentioned below, your doctor may recommend hyperbaric oxygen therapy:

  • Anemia (due to acute blood loss)
  • Intracranial abscess (acute brain infection from trauma or disease)
  • Peripheral artery disease
  • Thermal burn Injuries
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Crushing injury
  • Decompression sickness
  • Gas gangrene
  • Refractory osteomyelitis
  • Tissue death caused by skin or bones infection
  • Non Healing wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers
  • Radiation injury
  • Tissue death using skin grafts or skin flaps
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Vision loss due to retinal artery occlusion

Doctors and patients are increasingly choosing HBOT because it can be used alongside other treatment options.

Essential Factors to Consider While Choosing an HBOT Clinic

One can consider multiple factors when choosing a hyperbaric oxygen treatment clinic, such as

  • Highly Skilled Medical Professionals
  • Medical-Grade Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber
  • Physician Recommended
  • Safety of Patients
  • Oxygen Monitoring
  • High-Quality Communication System
  • Power Back-up
  • Cost of Treatment
  • Quality Standards of Clinic

1.Highly Skilled Medical Professionals

The medical team at an HBOT treatment center is crucial. They play an essential role in ensuring patient safety and encouraging positive outcomes. To ensure that the chamber’s technical aspects and operation are handled efficiently in a hyperbaric clinic, it must have well-trained staff.

Both doctors and staff must have the experience necessary to manage the different types of HBOT chambers in a hyperbaric clinic. When moving patients into and out of the hyperbaric chamber, the technicians must be polite and cautious. The entire process will ensure that the best treatment protocol is used for each patient.

The clinic’s medical directors should be board certified in hyperbaric medicine. They must also have extensive knowledge in this field. This will allow them to create a care plan for each patient and then direct the medical team to deliver the highest quality care.

A physician (MD, DO) should always be present to prescribe and supervise your hyperbaric protocol in the treatment clinic. This is essential for your safety and the proper supervision of your care.

2. Medical-Grade Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT) clinics must use medical-grade hyperbaric oxygen chambers in comparison to “soft” or “mild” chambers. For the best service, equipment must be installed by professionals and regularly maintained by certified specialists.

The medical-grade chambers (also known as “hard” hyperbaric chambers) offer various benefits and greater customization to the treatment. They can reach a broader range of prescribed pressures that are most appropriate for your condition.

Blending the correct pressure with 100% medical grade oxygen shows more effective healing by stimulating increased oxygen absorption into the bloodstream over 1200%, as well as other benefits, such as:

  • Suppression of inflammation and swelling
  • Stimulation of blood vessel growth and mobilization of stem cells
  • The body experiences increased circulation
  • Boosting the immune system’s ability to fight infection and disease.
  • Regeneration and enhancement of mitochondrial function

3. Physician Recommended

When looking for a specialized hyperbaric treatment clinic, you must have searched for a referral or someone who has taken the same treatment from a well-established HBOT clinic. However, it’s better to seek a professional referral than a review you have read online.

Your primary care physician or any other medical specialist can help you find the best HBOT clinic. This can be extremely helpful, especially if you are a first-timer or a confused person who wasted quite a time online or offline finding the right hyperbaric treatment clinic.

Moreover, suppose your physicians are recommending an HBOT clinic. In that case, you probably should consider it as they might have had a good experience in the past advising their other patients, and they trust the particular HBOT clinic and their ability to treat patients.

4. Safety of Patients

A team working at an HBOT clinic must be familiar with all safety aspects and communicate this to patients. Patients’ safety must be given top priority.

Because the oxygen concentration is highest during HBOT, patients are prohibited from bringing personal electronic equipment to the hyperbaric chamber. Any electronic items that spark can cause a fire in the chamber, which could pose a grave threat to patients’ lives and caregivers’ safety.

It is essential that staff adhere to all fire safety standards. A hyperbaric facility must have fire safety equipment that meets the highest standards and an emergency fire-alarm system.

5. Oxygen Monitoring

A certified clinic must purchase an oxygen monitor that meets NFPA 99 standards. An oxygen monitor can be used to determine if patients are being given the prescribed oxygen levels and should alarm the staff if that level exceeds.

6. High-Quality Communication System

All hyperbaric clinics should have HBOT chambers with built-in communication setups to facilitate easy interaction between patients and staff during ongoing hyperbaric therapy sessions.

This will help monitor the situation during the therapy effectively and will make the process smooth.

7. Power Back-up

Hyperbaric clinics must invest in power generators to ensure an uninterrupted power supply for HBOT sessions.

It’s imperative to have an uninterrupted power supply during the therapy to avoid any mishappenings.

8. Cost of Treatment

It doesn’t matter how good the HBOT clinic is if it doesn’t align with your cost preferences or budget.

Prices for hyperbaric therapy sessions can vary from one clinic to another. If patients require HBOT treatment over a long period, an affordable clinic with better costing can be a good option.

9. Quality Standards of Clinic

A thorough investigation is required to determine the quality standards of any clinic. The facility’s hyperbaric chambers must be in good working order at all times. Cleanliness is an important parameter to consider before you undergo HBOT therapy at your chosen clinic.

What Happens During Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)?

A qualified healthcare provider should only prescribe hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Many hospitals have hyperbaric oxygen chambers. These chambers allow people to relax, lie down, or sit comfortably and hold deep breaths for up to two hours.

As the pressure increases, your ears might feel plugged, just like when you are in an airplane or at a great height. Simply swallowing or chewing gum can “pop” your ears back to normal hearing levels.

Your blood transports oxygen throughout your body. This oxygen helps to infuse injured tissues with more oxygen, allowing them to heal faster. After a session, you might feel lightheaded. You may feel headache, fatigue, or claustrophobia as mild side effects.

HBOT usually takes several sessions. Make sure to check with your insurance company or Medicare before you go ahead with your therapy.

Additional Read: 5 Ways Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Change Your Life

Choose Healing Today

NexGen Hyperbaric proudly meets all these requirements and offers a personalized, safe and comfortable experience for all our patients. Please schedule a consultation at any of our clinics to get started with HBOT.
So what are you waiting for – Take a step toward healing and contact NexGen Hyperbaric Today!

Common Myths You Need to Know About Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a medical treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in an enclosed, pressurized chamber. The therapy is used to treat decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other conditions caused by insufficient oxygen supply to the body. It has also been used to speed up the healing of wounds after surgery or injury.
Hyperbaric oxygen chambers can now be found at hospitals and clinics worldwide. Still, there are some common myths about hyperbaric oxygen therapy that may lead people away from this potentially life-changing and highly effective treatment.
This article will explore these myths and provide information on how they are untrue.

1.Myth: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a wonder treatment for everything.

Given the long list of conditions or illnesses that are thought to benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy and the sometimes impressive and fast results, many are tempted to classify it as a wonder treatment or a miracle cure for everything and every type of illness there is.
However, it is important to remember that many factors play into causing illnesses, and likewise, many different factors play into curing them. This type of therapy may be beneficial for some aspects of healing, but that’s not the same as saying that it can kill off every type of disease, as the causes can be very varied.
For example, HBOT treatment sessions are highly effective in treating decompression sickness and carbon monoxide poisoning. And that is understandable, as these illnesses stem from an insufficient supply of oxygen in the body caused by breathing air at high pressure or by inhaling toxic gas from a fire accident. As the cause of these illnesses is problems making oxygen reach all of the cells and organs, it is natural that increasing the supply of oxygen that reaches the body will alleviate them.
It’s also important to remember that although the claims of healing certain illnesses are abundant and often seem miraculous, not all of them have been verified and tested yet. So the experience of one or a few people is not guaranteed to have the same effect on everybody.

2. Myth: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is Just a Celebrity Trend.

When people hear about hyperbaric therapy, they tend to think back to when Michael Jackson was rumoured to have slept in a hyperbaric chamber every night as he believed that it would help him stop the aging process and live to be 150 years old. This only added to his image as an eccentric celebrity with more money than he knew how what to do with. But hyperbaric chambers had been used to treat certain injuries and speed up healing for a long time before Michael Jackson.
Since then, a lot more research has been done into this type of therapy, and it is becoming more and more widespread every day in all types of medical facilities, recommended by health professionals for a growing list of ailments. With celebrities having easy access to cutting-edge treatments, the money to pay for it, and the fact that they’re always looking for ways to optimize their health and physical appearance, there is still a high proportion of them interested in hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Madonna is said to use it to improve skin health and diminish the appearance of wrinkles. Justin Bieber is said to believe that the treatment helps his body get rid of the many toxins that he’s accumulated over the years.
Since this therapy has been around for such a long enough time and it’s becoming more popular with doctors every day, it is much more than just a celebrity trend. Regardless of how many celebrities swear by it!

3. Myth: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is Only “Off-Label” Treatment.

“Off-Label” treatments are where an approved drug or procedure is used in a way different than what has been approved, such as to treat a different illness, or using a different dosage than recommended.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is sometimes considered experimental because it is very often used for illnesses in which the treatment has not been researched and proven yet. This means that it hasn’t gone through clinical trials for that condition, and therefore cannot be officially approved by the FDA for that use.
But there is already a long list of FDA-approved uses of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and people who benefit from these every day. They include decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning, and gas bubbles in the blood. It’s also approved for cases where healing of injuries is difficult, such as severe burns, non-healing wounds, or diabetic foot ulcers.
And also for radiation injuries, severe anemia, crush injuries, and unexpected hearing loss. And as time goes on, the list of approved treatments is only increasing more and more, so more conditions will start to be considered “on-label”.
As the safety levels of HBOT therapy are high, and the risks are minimal, many people are happy to give it a shot and see how it works for them.

4. Myth: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is Only for Athletes.

Despite what you may see on the news or read in tabloids about professional sports teams using hyperbaric chambers to enhance performance and speed up recovery time, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not only reserved for championship-level athletes. Instead, this medical treatment is available at hospitals worldwide for anyone who needs it without having to compete with other patients vying for this special chamber that can fit just one person inside of it at a time.
Given the many benefits that have already been shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides, it’s no wonder that more and more athletes are turning to this type of therapy as part of their regular training. Big names, including Michael Phelps and LeBron James, have talked about the importance of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the training programs and the benefits that they gain from it.
It seems natural that HBOT therapy is popular with athletes, who in the end are people who invest all their lives, work, and energy in their bodies, and getting them to peak performance level. But it doesn’t mean that this type of therapy is only reserved for people with NBA-team-sized budgets. As it’s becoming more widespread and more accessible, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is within reach of most people.
For an athlete, a sports injury can derail their career, and they need all the help in the world to manage it and increase the rate at which they heal their bones, muscles, and other damaged tissues. But for us mere mortals in our day-to-day life, we would still like a helping hand to recover faster from injuries and sickness. The increasing range of conditions for which doctors prescribe hyperbaric oxygen therapy proves that this treatment is becoming more available for just about anyone who might need it.

Additional Read: Amazing Benefits Of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy For Athletes

5. Myth: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a Risk-Free Treatment.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be a life-saving treatment. It is considered perfectly safe when administered by a trained, licensed professional in an adequately prepared facility and has the right safety protocols in place.
But it does carry some risk with it as any medical treatment would, whether you receive surgery at the hospital or take medication for an illness.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is administered in a pressurized chamber, and there are always some risks associated with pressure changes in the body. Similar to what can happen to scuba divers, hyperbaric therapy can result in pain in the ear or sinuses due to the pressure, even potentially going as far as a ruptured eardrum, middle ear damage, or other hearing complications. It can also cause eye problems, such as changes in vision, blurring, or maturing cataracts.
Most of these side-effects tend to be mild and temporary, as well as very rare. Trained technicians will follow a protocol by which they very gradually and gently introduce the pressure changes in the chamber. This will give the body time to adapt, minimize the potential risks involved, and help to prevent possible side effects in patients.
Lastly, the high oxygen concentrations needed for this type of therapy also present a safety issue given the highly flammable nature of oxygen gas. This is why the clinic where the treatment is given must have stringent fire precautions to avoid creating an oxygen explosion, which is a real risk that needs preventative measures put in place.

Despite the science-fiction feel to it, and the many myths surrounding hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the reality is that it is a safe and effective treatment for a growing number of ailments. If you have any treatment needs that you feel might benefit from this therapy, contact us.
We can talk through your options to try it out in the hands of highly trained professionals and see what hyperbaric oxygen therapy can do for you.

5 Ways Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Change Your Life

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the process of breathing 100% oxygen while under increased atmospheric pressure. A treatment that can be traced back to the 1600s, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been around for centuries. A British clergyman by the name of Henshaw is credited to be the first to build and run the first well-known hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

A well-established treatment for scuba diving risks and also for decompression sickness, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is on the cutting edge of treatments for a variety of injuries and illnesses. Some of the other conditions hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been known to help are anemia due to blood loss, gas gangrene, radiation injuries, carbon monoxide poisoning, and much more.

The air pressure in a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber is increased by two to three times. This improves your lungs’ ability to take in higher amounts of pure oxygen than is possible under normal pressure conditions. This allows your lungs to distribute extra oxygen throughout your body, helping to fight bacteria and prompt the release of growth factors and stem cells to promote healing.

How Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Work?

  • Hyperbaric oxygen therapy brings oxygen-rich plasma to tissue that is starving for oxygen, thus aiding in healing wounds. Inherently, wounds damage a body’s blood vessels. Those damaged blood vessels (because of the wound) release fluid that leaks into the surrounding tissue causing issues with swelling. The tissue begins to die because the swelling is preventing oxygen from getting to the damaged cells. Elevated pressure in the hyperbaric chamber increases oxygen in the bloodstream, aiming to stop the inevitable cycle of swelling, oxygen depletion, and the death of the tissue.
  • Hyperbaric oxygen therapy strengthens the body’s immune system by blocking the actions of harmful bacteria. It aids in strengthening the immune system at the same time.
  • The toxins of some bacteria can be disabled via the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers. Oxygen concentration in tissue can be increased which helps them become resistant to infections. Not only that, but the hyperbaric oxygen treatment helps in improving white blood cell’s ability to seek out and destroy unwanted invaders.
  • Hyperbaric oxygen therapy also encourages the formation of new blood cells, thus aiding in the formation of all new collagen and skin cells.

5 Ways HBOT Can Change Your Life or The Life of Someone You Love

1. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treats Air and Gas Embolism

A bubble moving in the bloodstream could obstruct the flow of blood to the body’s vital organs and tissues. This is called an air or gas embolism. The primary treatment for an air or gas embolism is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). HBOT increases atmospheric pressure and therefore reduces the air or gas bubble size. This helps it dissolve easily into the bloodstream.

2. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Helps With a Lack of Oxygen

Long periods of remaining in a state of low oxygen can be the key feature in several disease states. Providing more oxygen to the patient where this is an issue would help alleviate the oxygen deficit. The method of getting oxygen to the hypoxic tissue is important to consider and that’s where HBOT comes in. The use of a hyperbaric oxygen chamber helps adjust the levels of oxygen in the plasma. This assists hemoglobin to reach maximum capacity in oxygen-carrying.

3. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Heals Brain Infections

One of the most serious conditions of the central nervous system is an intracranial or brain abscess. A potentially life-threatening condition, it is an infection in the brain that creates an
encapsulated area of pus. This condition is more prevalent in children between the ages of 4 and 7 and also in men who are under the age of 30. Treatment for this condition can be a medical challenge and many patients do not survive at all.

The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (in addition to the traditional treatments) for brain infections often helps reduce the duration of the antibiotic treatment, can reduce hospitalization, and even increase the chances of survival. HBOT is FDA-approved as a treatment for this condition.

4. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy For Traumatic Injuries

Traumatic injuries such as concussions that are caused by an external force, wounds that penetrate the skull, and even other closed-head injuries can be treated by hyperbaric oxygen treatments. A hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatment can be used on patients who have received a traumatic injury to help relieve symptoms, speed up recovery, and more by encouraging the repair of damaged tissues, angiogenesis, and blood vessel growth.

5. Skin Grafts

When an external wound needs to have skin transplanted from one place to another in order to cover a wound, this is called skin grafting. A transplant of not only skin, but also deeper tissues like blood vessels, muscle, or even bones, is called a skin flap.

Both skin flaps and skin grafts need a healthy, highly oxygenated transplant site in order to be successful. To promote optimal healing and to prepare the wound site before transplantation, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber is used. This helps encourage the increase of blood flow and oxygen to the affected areas.

Contact NexGen Hyperbaric to Learn More

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has become a useful treatment for many different diseases and injuries. This is due to HBOT’s ability to help counter large deficits in oxygen, promote faster healing and angiogenesis, help fight off infections, and keep inflammation controlled. There are many technological advances that are helping hyperbaric oxygen therapy accelerate its unlimited potential to fight against different wound-related conditions.

Contact us today to learn about treatment options near you. We’d be glad to help you learn more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Amazing Benefits Of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy For Athletes

Becoming more and more popular in the sports world, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has become a treatment that athletes across ranks utilize to speed up recovery time and enhance their performance.

Approved by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), this healing treatment can increase the benefits of oxygen on the body by increasing the volume of oxygen that enters the blood stream.

From a medical standpoint, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is one of the best tools to treat a variety of diseases and injuries. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can treat tissue damage caused by radiation, non-healing diabetic wounds and other medical conditions. It’s no wonder athletes are seeing the benefits of applying oxygen-rich healing therapy to their sports-related injuries and even going beyond just using it for injuries.

How Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Benefit Athletes?

When an athlete enters one of the pressurized hyperbaric chambers, like the ones at NexGen Hyperbaric, they are breathing in 100% medical grade oxygen, raising the oxygen levels of blood plasma and hemoglobin by up to 25 times. This causes red blood cells to become more malleable, enhancing their ability to reach restricted blood vessels, allowing cells and tissue to receive the oxygen needed for regeneration and healing.

Athletes can recover at faster rates from an intense work out or increase their performance due to elevated oxygen levels. During hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the body is also flushing lactic acid, which causes muscle fatigue.

1. General Recovery

From soft tissue injuries to concussions and fractures, gone are the days when recovering from an athletic injury required mostly rest. However, these strategies are never a good idea for athletes interested in optimizing their performance. A general recovery approach, including treatments like hyperbaric oxygen therapy, is much more effective.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help speed up healing and recovery times so much that you can think of it as pressing a fast forward button on recovery. There are many benefits for athletes that HBOT provides using high levels of oxygen permeating tissues.

2. Healing & Treating Injuries

From professionals to hobbyists, athletes cannot escape injuries, no matter how minor or major. It’s all just part of the game. Instances of possible injury include:

  • Injuries incurred during contact sports.
  • Joint stress caused while running.
  • Tendon pain while engaging in sports like rock climbing.

Previously, athletes were told to rest in the face of an injury, regardless of its impact on their performance or the unique demands of the injury. However, with technological advances available to athletes, like hyperbaric oxygen therapy, they are able to take a more engaged role in the healing process.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps injured tissue absorb a highly concentrated amount of medical grade oxygen. A single 60–90-minute hyperbaric oxygen therapy session can significantly oxygenate an athlete’s blood, plasma and brain fluids, increasing circulation and healing where needed. Additional benefits include:

  • Bone or cartilage regeneration
  • Increased stem cell activation
  • Reduced muscle fatigue
  • Growth of productive cells in connective tissue
  • Enhanced collagen production
  • Reduces swelling in tissue and bone
  • Enhances white blood cell function to fight infection

3. Boosting Performance

Some athletes exercise at higher elevations to improve endurance by boosting red blood cell formation and the blood’s oxygen capacity. They do this in the hope that it will give them an edge against competitors who do not. Many athletes are now turning to hyperbaric oxygen therapy to increase their circulation and blood oxygenation to see similar benefits.

4. Increasing Mental Focus

Any athlete can tell you that competing takes more than just physical strength and skill. Stamina, mental clarity and focus are what drives athletes to perform at their very best. HBOT helps improve mental focus and clear brain fog so athletes can enter the game with laser-sharp focus.

5. Concussion and TBI Treatment

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) positively affects athletes dealing with concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). HBOT works by increasing the oxygen concentration in the body, which enhances delivery to all tissues and organs. Doing this helps those injured athletes to heal faster, reduce inflammation, improve blood circulation, and reduce oxidative stress.

An Athlete’s View on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

As an eight-time national champion, American World Cup competitor and Olympian, alpine ski racer Nina O’Brien constantly works to improve her strength and endurance. HBOT allows Nina to recover more quickly to get the most out of her training, and she’s also noticed a significant improvement in her mental health.

“As athletes, we’re fighting for that extra piece and edge, and that’s where the mental game and the mental training come in so you can perform at your best. And what’s cool is that HBOT plays a huge role in helping me increase my focus and concentration and maximize my biggest performance moments.” -Nina O’Brien.

Find Out More by Contacting Us Today

As a premier provider of evidence-based hyperbaric oxygen therapy, NexGen Hyperbaric has received recognition from the sports world for offering proven adjunct treatment modality for many conditions, taking the advanced potential of HBOT beyond hospitals and wound care units.

Since 2004, NexGen Hyperbaric has operated two successful business units, providing outpatient care in standalone clinics, and the Center for Wound Healing, delivering hospital-based care in on-site clinics.

In addition to serving a wide range of athletes as a leading provider of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, we are also actively supporting elite endurance athletes, coaches and trainers in our home base in Colorado.

NexGen Hyperbaric is the official Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Services provider for the Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail and Beaver Creek. We are honored to play a small part in helping elite athletes return more quickly to peak mental and physical performance.

If you’d like to learn more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy and how it can impact the performance of your team or more info about the chambers used for the oxygen treatment, feel free to contact NexGen Hyperbaric.