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If you are a diver, you may be familiar with the idea of a decompression chamber or Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (also known as Hyperbaric Therapy). Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy or HBOT was originally developed to combat decompression sickness (also known as the bends) that occurs when a diver ascends from the depths of the ocean too fast. Nitrogen builds up in the blood and creates potentially deadly and always painful bubbles in the blood. If the imagery of a doctor tapping air out of a syringe has ever given you a pause, try not to imagine too closely what nitrogen bubbles might do! What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy? HBOT takes place in a hyperbaric chamber; a chamber that increases the ambient pressure from the everyday 1 atmosphere absolute (15 pounds per square inch of pressure) up to almost 6 atmospheres (or around 87 pounds per square inch of pressure) at a qualified healing institute with the appropriate equipment. Along with the increased pressure, oxygen levels are increased up to 100 percent in the chamber to increase the oxygen saturation levels in blood and tissue. What Use is HBOT? Decompression sickness – As mentioned above, when a diver comes up from a dive too quickly, nitrogen bubble develop in the blood and congregate in the joints. Besides severe pain, if these bubbles migrate to the brain, lungs or heart, they can be deadly. HBOT causes the bubbles to shrink in the high pressure and the concentration of oxygen reduces the amount of nitrogen in each bubble until it can be absorbed by the body. Wound Healings – Have a wound that just won’t heal, even after weeks, months, or maybe even years? The closest wound healing center may offer HBOT treatments as one solution. The increased pressure and oxygen improves oxygen concentration in all areas of the body including areas with poor circulation or damaged tissues. By stimulating new blood vessel growth and increasing oxygen transport through the body, stubborn injuries may finally disappear. Brain Injuries – More and more studies are being done on the effects of HBOT on individuals with brain injuries, such as strokes, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions. Affected individuals who have spent time in HBOT chambers have been shown to have increased function and a reduction in mental impairment. While further studies are needed, the preliminary results show that HBOT may play a key role in the future of neurological disorders. Will It Hurt? Other than the mild discomfort of being confined to a small space, HBOT does not cause any discomfort besides the normal stress felt in the eardrums due to pressure changes. The size of the chamber itself will differ from location to location and some may even be as large as an entire room!
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