Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is often referred to as HBOT. It is a type of medical treatment that involves placing the body in a sealed chamber. The chamber is filled with nothing but pure oxygen that continuously flows at a rate of 100 percent during treatment with no dilution. The hyperbaric chamber is pressurized up to three times the average amount of normal atmospheric pressure. The hyperbaric chamber allows for an isolated form of oxygen therapy so it can penetrate the body faster than traditional oxygen therapy via a mask or nasal cannula. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy assists with taking in 100 percent oxygen to increase the overall amount of oxygen that circulates throughout the body.
How The Chamber Works
There are two main types of chambers: multiplace and monoplace. The monoplace chambers only hold one person. The chamber is generally a 7-foot long, cylinder-shaped tube in which the individual is placed into for treatment. The patient has to lie down on a table, and the chamber is sealed airtight around her for treatment to begin. A multiplace chamber is slightly different and accommodates several patients at one time. The patients either lie down or sit but have to wear a mask to receive their oxygen. The chamber is also air sealed and pressurized throughout the procedure. The length of most procedures vary per patient but generally last between 60 and 120 minutes. The treatment starts off with compression. This is when the inside of the chamber begins to build up pressure. This will allow the oxygen therapy to saturate better. Once compression has been reached, the oxygen treatment will then begin. The patient will breathe pure oxygen for 30 minutes and then break for a normal breath of air for around 5 minutes. During this time, oxygen levels in the blood stream and the body are closely monitored. The session will end with a period of decompression. This is a gradual process that takes about 10 minutes, which allows the body to slowly get used to normal oxygen compression outside of the chamber.
What The Hyperbaric Chamber Is Used For
The patient who benefits from using a hyperbaric chamber may suffer from a variety of health issues. Some of these issues may be carbon monoxide poisoning, radiation therapy damage, unhealed wounds, burns, sports injuries, decompression sickness, flesh-eating bacteria, embolism, infection, anemia, seizures, smoke inhalation and blood loss. Many diabetic patients seek hyperbaric chamber therapy. The benefit is increased oxygen levels to areas of the body such as the legs that may have nerve damage due to diabetic neuropathy. Most patients visit the chamber more than once as a part of a long-term treatment plan pertaining to their illness and their physicians' recommendations. There are generally no serious side effects from using the chamber except that some patients may experience pressure or hear a popping sound in the ears. Some patients complain of being lightheaded for a few minutes after the procedure.
