How HBOT Works

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment that involves breathing a very high concentration of oxygen in a pressurized chamber. This extra oxygen has several beneficial effects:

  • Increases natural healing processes
  • Gets oxygen to damaged areas lacking it
  • Stimulates natural infection fighting processes
how-wounds-heal

How Wounds Heal

Wound healing is a four stage process:

  • Hemostasis – the body releases clotting agents to stop bleeding
  • Inflammation – the body releases infection fighting agents and activates processes to rebuild damaged blood vessels, tissue and skin
  • Proliferation (aka Granulation) – the new tissue network is created
  • Maturation (aka Remodeling) – the structure of the new scar tissue gets stronger

This healing process requires oxygen to work effectively. When damaged or diseased tissue cannot receive enough oxygen normally, such as with crush injuries or in patients with poor circulation, healing can be delayed or prevented altogether.

how-HBOT-helps-healing

How HBOT Helps Healing

The inflammatory and proliferation phases of healing are strongly dependent on oxygen. HBOT provides a way for enough oxygen to reach injured tissue, which boosts the body’s natural healing process in several ways.

  • Increasing Collagen Production – Fibroblasts are the body’s repair cells, and they create collagen. They are highly dependent on oxygen to do their job of migrating to wounds and producing new connective tissue.
  • Increasing Angiogenesis – Angiogenesis is the growth of new blood vessels. HBOT stimulates this growth at wound sites, which brings more oxygen and nutrients to the injury, which heals it faster.
  • Increasing Oxygenation and Perfusion – Oxygenation is how much oxygen is in the blood. Perfusion is how well it is moving through the capillaries to the body’s tissues. The delivery of oxygen to support healing is greatly increased when a patient breathes a high concentration of oxygen.
  • Improving Bone Regeneration – Osteoblasts are repair cells that build new bone, and they are highly reliant on oxygen to work effectively.
how-HBOT-helps-fight-infection

How HBOT Helps Fight Infection

Infections may be part of the problem with a wound that won’t heal, or may be an illness on their own. HBOT has been proven to help fight infection in addition to speeding up healing, which helps healing even more.

  • Increasing White Blood Cells – White blood cells are the front line in the body’s fight against infection. HBOT stimulates their production, which helps the body fight the infection more quickly.
  • Killing Harmful Bacteria – Many bacteria require an anaerobic (no oxygen) environment to survive. This means the oxygen provided by HBOT directly kills some infections, which also supports the work the white blood cells are doing to remove the infection.
  • Supporting Antibiotics – Research has shown that some antibiotics are more effective at curing infections when there are higher oxygen levels in the patient’s body.

Frequently Asked Questions

HBOT is an effective treatment for various conditions, including carbon monoxide poisoning, radiation exposure, decompression sickness, and more. It can also treat conditions affecting specific body parts, such as stroke, chronic wounds, and sports injuries. Some studies have shown that HBOT can improve cognitive function and memory in people with Alzheimer’s. HBOT may also improve the quality of life in cancer patients.

 It depends on what you’re using HBOT for. If you’re using it to treat a specific condition, consult your doctor about how often you should do HBOT. If you’re using it to improve your overall health, then 2-3 times of sessions a week are recommended.

There are a few contraindications for oxygen therapy:

  • People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should not use oxygen therapy, as it can worsen their condition.
  • People with heart problems should not use oxygen therapy, which can overload the heart and cause chest pain or arrhythmia.
  • Pregnant people should not use oxygen therapy, as it can increase the risk of congenital disabilities.
  • People taking certain medications should not use oxygen therapy, as it can interact with them and cause health complications.
  • Finally, people allergic to ozone should not use oxygen therapy, as ozone is a component of pure oxygen gas.

It is best to do HBOT at most three times weekly to avoid potential side effects. Side effects of HBOT can include ear pain, sinus pain, and fatigue. It is essential to talk with your doctor before starting any new treatment regimen, including HBOT.

No. Cell phones and other electronic devices emit radiation, and it’s unsafe to have them in a hyperbaric chamber. The increased pressure in a hyperbaric chamber can make the radiation even more harmful.

You can receive HBOT treatment at a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) center. There are many centers located throughout the United States and around the world. You can find a list of hyperbaric oxygen therapy centers by visiting the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) website.

The HBOT technicians have a wide range of training, including medical billing and insurance, equipment use and maintenance, and patient care.

Many HBOT technicians are certified through the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Association (HBOTA), the only national organization certifying healthcare professionals in hyperbaric oxygen therapy. To become certified through HBOTA, technicians must complete an approved training program and pass an examination.

Before starting HBOT, the technician needs to know about the patient’s medical history, including any current illnesses or injuries, as well as any medications they are currently taking. The technician must also learn about the patient’s blood pressure and heart rate.

Either self-referrals from patients or physician referrals are acceptable. Our staff assesses patients to determine their unique needs before providing care. Please contact us at 888-567-4302 to set up an assessment.

How Can HBOT Help You?

Contact us today to learn more about how NexGen Hyperbaric can help you heal.

CONTACT US TODAY
The information provided by The Center For Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine LLC & NexGen Hyperbaric LLC does not constitute a medical recommendation. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only, and no claims, either real or implied are being made. Please consult with our physicians or your own physician for a detailed medical evaluation of your own personal and specific health needs and recommendations.
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