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The Dangers of Hyperbaric

Hyperbaric medicine, also known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the therapeutic use of oxygen at a level higher than atmospheric pressure. HBOT has been recommended and used for a myriad of medical conditions for well over 40 years. However, many of these recommendations have come without sufficient scientific validation of safety or efficacy. Because of this, medical skepticism is increasing regarding its use and its possible dangers.

  1. General Symptoms

    • Claustrophobia, fatigue, headache and vomiting are all minor symptoms linked to hyperbaric therapy. Typically, these conditions are mild and have no long-lasting effects.

    Barotrauma

    • Barotrauma is physical damage to body tissues caused by rapid or extreme changes in pressure. This type of injury includes ear damage, sinus damage, ruptured middle ear and lung damage. Symptoms of ear damage can include dizziness, ear discomfort, slight hearing loss or a sensation of stuffiness in the ears.

    Oxygen Toxicity

    • Oxygen toxicity causes central nervous system and pulmonary effects. Seizures do occur rarely during treatment but are self-limiting. The seizures will stop when the patient ceases breathing pure oxygen. Pulmonary oxygen toxicity may occur in those patients requiring supplemental oxygen between treatments. This toxicity can affect the brain, causing convulsions, psychological changes, pulmonary edema, hemorrhage and respiratory failure.

    Myopia

    • Myopia, associated with hyperbaric therapy and oxygen toxicity, is a form of short-sightedness that can last for weeks or months. Most changes in vision return to normal within eight weeks following the end of treatments.

    Decompression Illness

    • Decompression illness includes decompression sickness, pneumothorax and gas emboli (gas bubble). Decompression sickness is a condition arising from dissolved gases coming out of solution into bubbles inside the body. Pneumothorax is the presence of gas or air in the cavity between the lungs and the chest wall, causing lung collapse. A gas embolism, also referred to as an air embolism, is the presence of gas bubbles in the bloodstream that block circulation.

    Fire Hazard

    • Treatment chambers also present a fire hazard. High levels of compressed oxygen can be extremely dangerous because the gas is highly reactive. Fires and explosions in HBOT chambers have killed several people and is the largest cause of fatal complications related to treatment. Because of this, practitioners of HBOT must take great precaution to minimize such fire hazards.

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