The hyperbaric oxygen therapy uses oxygen pressure where a patient lays in a chamber as an alternative treatment. The chamber has 100% oxygen and with the pressure it exerts on the body, it dissolves the oxygen that was in the body cells in the body to a state that the body does not even need oxygen to survive. It is usually used with other treatments on the side to help the body increase the ability to heal.

Procedure of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

The hyperbaric oxygen therapy usually lasts 90 minutes a treatment and can be done 5 days a week. The mechanics of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is that pure oxygen is forced into the body and bloodstream through atmospheric pressure and flushes out the other gases that may be less beneficial to the body. The procedure is carried out in a tubular closed chamber where a patient can lay in like a capsule. There is an intercom system within the chambers for communicating with doctors or chamber operations and TV or video may be provided for entertainment during treatments.

Preparing for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

There are things that should or should not be done prior to the treatment. Smoking is not allowed as tobacco in products serves to constrict the blood vessel and makes the treatment less efficient. Medication such as vitamin C, morphine, or alcohol is prohibited during or within a range of 8 hrs from the treatment. Those that have the cold or flu should not undergo the treatment and patients will be required to wear 100% cotton hospital garment during treatments.

Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

• Increase body’s ability to kill germs

• Increase body’s ability to rebuild damaged tissues

• Contribute to Myopia (shortsightedness)

• Can potentially be damaging to children with congenital heart diseases.

• Promotes wound healing

• Strengthen white blood cells' defense

• Reduction or elimination of the effects of toxic substances

• Reduction or elimination of gas or air bubbles

• Increase oxygen contrentration in body even with blocked blood flow

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is said to be Effective for:

• Autism

• Epidural abscesses

• Some types of hearing loss

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis

Side Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Although side effects are not really found from this treatment, there are some cases some of the patients may experience the effects mentioned below.

• Pressure fullness of the eardrums

• Claustrophobia

• Lung Problems/Seizure

Risks of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Most of the risk of the treatment relies on the safety use of the equipment involved, especially the chambers so they should be thoroughly checked to make sure that they are properly installed according to regulations and the operating personals are fully trained to handle the operations and equipments. There should also be a certified hyperbaric physician present nearby during the procedure or should be easily accessible. There is also a risk of catching fire as there is a large amount of concentrated oxygen and if the machine is not properly functioning, it can be hard to escape.