What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) involves breathing up to 100% oxygen in a pressurized environment. This aids in allowing your body to absorb significantly more oxygen than it would under normal air pressure. This increased oxygen intake has many positive effects. It enhances the body’s ability to heal, improves physiological functions, and supports overall wellbeing. While HBOT is effective in treating a variety of medical conditions, let’s take a closer look at a few key uses.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often results in reduced oxygen flow to the brain, either due to low blood pressure from blood loss or brain swelling. This decrease in oxygen can impair brain function. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides an effective solution by dramatically increasing the oxygen supply to the brain. This not only aids in physiological healing but also enhances cognitive functions like memory, executive function, and information processing speed, helping individuals recover mentally and physically from TBI.
Stroke and Cognitive Impairment
Like TBI patients, individuals who suffer from strokes experience decreased oxygen levels in the brain. Without adequate oxygen, brain cells suffer, leading to damaged tissue. HBOT helps by increasing oxygen supply and improving blood flow to the affected areas of the brain. This promotes the healing of brain tissue, accelerates recovery, and improves cognitive function, ultimately leading to a better quality of life for stroke survivors.
COVID-19 Recovery
One of the most significant factors in the deterioration of COVID-19 patients is hypoxemia, a condition where oxygen levels in the blood fall below normal. This can lead to severe circulation and respiratory issues. By using hyperbaric oxygen therapy, oxygen can easily pass through inflamed and thickened lung tissues, reaching the bloodstream more effectively. Once in the bloodstream, the oxygen circulates throughout the body. This promotes healing and recovery in tissues and organs damaged by COVID-19.
