Hyperbaric oxygen therapy works by increasing the amount of oxygen that your blood can carry and deliver to your tissues.
– Normally, your lungs can only absorb a certain amount of oxygen from the air you breathe. However, when you are inside a hyperbaric chamber, the air pressure is higher than normal, which allows your lungs to take in more oxygen. This extra oxygen is then carried by your red blood cells to the parts of your body that need it the most such as wounds, infections, or damaged organs.
By providing more oxygen to your tissues, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help with several processes, such as:
• Fighting bacteria and infections.
• Reducing inflammation and swelling.
• Stimulating the growth of new blood vessels.
• Enhancing the function of white blood cells.
• Promoting the healing of skin grafts and flaps.
• Preventing tissue death and gangrene.
• Reversing the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is usually given in sessions that last for one to two hours each. Depending on your condition, you may need several sessions over a period of days or weeks to achieve the best results.
– Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a safe and effective treatment for many medical conditions, but it also has some risks and side effects. You should always consult with your doctor before starting hyperbaric oxygen therapy and follow their instructions carefully.
🔅 Possible risks and side effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy:
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. It can help with various medical conditions such as infections, wounds, burns, carbon monoxide poisoning, and decompression sickness. However, like any medical procedure, it also has some risks and side effects that you should be aware of before undergoing this therapy. They include:
1) Middle ear injuries: such as fluid leakage or eardrum rupture, due to the changes in air pressure inside the chamber. You may feel ear discomfort or pain during the therapy. To prevent this, you should learn how to equalize the pressure in your ears by swallowing, yawning, or pinching your nose and blowing gently.
2) Temporary nearsightedness, or myopia: caused by the temporary changes in the shape of your eye lens. This may affect your vision for a few weeks after the therapy. You may need to adjust your glasses or contact lenses accordingly.
3) Lung collapse, or barotrauma: caused by the air pressure changes inside and outside the chamber. This can damage your lungs and cause chest pain, shortness of breath, or coughing blood. This is more likely to happen if you have a history of lung disease or if you hold your breath during the therapy.
4) Seizures, or oxygen toxicity: caused by too much oxygen in your central nervous system. This can cause convulsions, loss of consciousness, or brain damage. This is rare and usually happens if you receive too much oxygen for too long or if you have a pre-existing condition that makes you more sensitive to oxygen.
5) Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia: caused by the increased use of glucose by your cells. This can affect people who have diabetes and take insulin. You should monitor your blood sugar levels before and after the therapy and eat something before the session.
6) Claustrophobia, or fear of enclosed spaces,: caused by the small and confined space of the chamber. This can trigger anxiety or panic attacks in some people. You should inform your doctor if you have claustrophobia and they may prescribe you some medication to help you relax during the therapy.
7) Fire hazard: caused by the oxygen-rich environment of the chamber. This can increase the risk of fire or explosion if there are any flammable materials or sources of ignition inside or near the chamber.
– You should avoid wearing any synthetic fabrics, jewelry, watches, hair products, cosmetics, or electronic devices during the therapy.
– These risks and side effects are generally mild and rare and can be prevented or treated by following the instructions of your doctor and the staff at the hyperbaric center. You should always consult with your doctor before starting hyperbaric oxygen therapy and report any symptoms or concerns you may have during or after the therapy.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be a safe and effective treatment for many conditions if done properly and under medical supervision.
