(DiverWire) – Having to go to the chamber as a result of Decompression Sickness is something every scuba diver hopes to avoid. Sitting there for hours while breathing oxygen under pressure in a hyperbaric chamber is not the way to end a day of diving. For many Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is something they to look forward to. HBOT has far reaching treatment applications and is no longer just for The Bends.
It was not until 1955 that HBOT began to be used for treating other conditions besides Scuba Diving Injuries. It is now the standard of care for treating Non-Healing Diabetic Wounds, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Thermal Burns, Radiation Tissue Damage, Air (or Gas) Embolus and about nine other insurance covered conditions.
Not all doctors will recommend Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy but not because it isn’t beneficial. They simply have no training or knowledge of the documented results in treating serious problems such as strokes, heart attacks, infections, burns, difficult wounds that won’t heal, Diabetes, toxins/poisoning, Lyme Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Autism, HIV/AIDS, addiction recovery, lessening the damage done from chemo and radiation therapy and the list keeps growing as more benefits become apparent. In fact, any disease that is ischemic (lack of tissue oxygen) in nature, or has a concurring edema (tissue or nerve swelling) will see a benefit from HBOT.
Medically, there are six things that HBOT does:
- HBO is a vaso-constrictor, it therefore reduces edema. Reduction is swelling and inflamation often occurs after the first treatment
- HBOT promotes neovascularization. When oxygen levels are increased fibroblasts divide producing more collagen and new capillaries (neovascularisation)
- HBO enhances the killing power and activity of white blood cells (leukocytes)
- HBO kills anaerobic bacteria. HBOT is effective in fighting many infections and is bacteriostatic against anaerobes and stops exo-toxin production
- HBO more rapidly heals vaso-deficient, poorly perfused tissue. The tissue that heals the slowest is that which has the least blood supply such as the “white tissue” in the body. Tendons, ligaments, meniscus in the joints, spinal discs, bones and even brain tissues are all capillary deficient and each exhibit more rapid repair when benefitted by HBOT
- HBO regenerates damaged nervous system cells. HBOT neutralizes the toxic cellular by-products and can return damaged neurons to prior activity.
It was not until recently that cost effective and convenient alternatives to massive Multi-Place Hyperbaric Chambers became available. Personal Hyperbaric Chambers and Clinic Grade Portable Hyperbaric Chambers are increasing the availability of this modality. Oxygen Concentration Systems specifically designed for hyperbaric applications are further reducing facility oxygen costs and ultimately this translates to a lower price per chamber session. More clinical studies are in progress and every avid sports fan can list athletes off the top of their head that actively use HBOT for injury recovery and performance enhancement. There is even a bill before Congress to make HBOT the standard of care for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
So while Scuba Divers plan their dives to avoid the chamber, many others are lining up for the limb saving, life saving, quality-of-life restoring therapy that HBOT may offer.
For additional information on how Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can help you, contact HyperbaricsRx:
Toll Free: 877.589.9998
Email: laurabetts@hyperbaricsrx.com
Site: http://www.hyperbaricsrx.com/
Laura H. Betts is a Multi-Agency Certified Instructor Trainer, Breathing Gas System Specialist, Professional Educator and the President of HyperbaricsRx.
