Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is the medical specialty of breathing 100% oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure. A hyperbaric chamber regulates the flow of oxygen and controls air pressure. Physicians have discovered benefits for a wide variety of illnesses.

Significance

• HBOT works by increasing the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. Blood plasma normally does not carry oxygen, but the extra atmospheric pressure exerted by a hyperbaric chamber forces oxygen into plasma, allowing a sort of "turbocharging" of energy.

Healing

• This extra oxygen encourages new tissue and blood vessel growth and helps the healing process by supporting the acceptance of skin grafts for burns or other injuries. The Hyperbaric Medicine Center at the University of California at San Diego says, "A high level of oxygen in the blood helps to fight infections."

Decompression

• The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for all forms of medical conditions has grown from the discovery of it's usefulness in treating complications from diving like decompression sickness, also known as "the bends."

Primary Uses

• According to The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS), the therapy is crucial in treating carbon monoxide poisoning. Flesh damaged by accidents, falls and gunshots benefit from HBOT as extra oxygen encourages healing and fights infection. Delayed radiation injury, gas gangrene, anemia and intra-cranial abscess are regularly treated with hyperbaric medicine.

Other Uses

• Doctors in specialties including infectious disease, radiation oncology, plastic surgery, emergency medicine, orthopedics, oral surgery and general surgery are all utilizing HBOT in certain situations. The same is true for physicians working in stroke, brain and spinal chord injuries, migraine headaches, sensory disorders, multiple sclerosis and bone disease.