Your body is remarkably capable of healing itself when given the appropriate conditions and minimal assistance. Utilizing the most plentiful element on Earth, oxygen, under elevated pressures, hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps your body repair itself from injuries or chronic conditions, or restores it to optimal health and top performance. Your body’s oxygen content can be raised by 1,200% with this non-invasive procedure, which has a number of positive effects, including improved blood flow, tissue regeneration, stem cell mobilization, reduced inflammation, and more.
You just breathe oxygen at a higher atmospheric pressure while receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a dedicated HBOT chamber. This comprehensive information has been put together by Hyperbaric Medical Solutions to assist you in deciding if hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the best option for you. The conditions this ground-breaking treatment can address, the health objectives you can accomplish, what to anticipate before, during, and after each session, and any potential side effects are all covered in this article.
What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment?
During hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the patient breathes just oxygen at 100% pressure, which is higher than normal (sea level pressure). The procedure is carried out in a specialized HBOT chamber where the patient may comfortably breathe 100% medical-grade oxygen as the chamber’s pressure is gradually increased. In accordance with Boyle, Henry, and Dalton’s laws of physics, inhaling oxygen under pressure causes oxygen to dissolve into the blood’s plasma. Haemoglobin and red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen; plasma does not do so normally. The body’s concentration of oxygen can increase by as much as 1,200% when oxygen dissolves into plasma and travels at least four times farther into the body’s tissues!
However, why would you want or require your body’s oxygen concentration to be higher? The air we breathe is normally composed of a mixture of gases, of which only around 21% is oxygen. In most cases, this is adequate for the body’s essential operations in those with healthy lungs. Nevertheless, increasing the body’s level of oxygen has a multitude of short- and long-term advantages (if repeated frequently enough). The body’s capacity to heal itself, produce energy, and foster an environment that reduces inflammation and encourages regenerative healing are all improved and accelerated by this series of advantages.
What Should Be Expected While Undergoing Therapy?
The basic way to use hyperbaric oxygen therapy is to recline, unwind, and breathe normally. You will first have a consultation with a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant before your first session. This consultation, which is often reimbursed by insurance for any kind of illness, is intended to assess your suitability for HBOT, make sure there are no contraindications, and develop the best course of action for your condition or conditions to achieve your desired level of health. This appointment should last approximately one hour.
In addition to providing an orientation on what to expect before treatments begin, your consulting provider will go over the science behind hyperbaric oxygen therapy and how it benefits the body. You will also learn about the daily process of getting ready for each session. Lastly, any possible insurance coverage and/or expenditures related to your care will be reviewed.
A technician will check your vitals and go over a safety checklist at the start of each session, making sure you have taken off all jewelry, watches, and electrical gadgets and that you are clear of lotions and scents. A water bottle to carry into the Hyperbaric chamber, a grounding bracelet to avoid static electricity, and a gown and blanket made entirely of cotton are also provided to ensure a secure and comfortable experience. As the chamber pressurizes, you can use the water bottle to assist clear your ears.
The technician will play your preferred music, movie, or television program once you’re inside the hyperbaric chamber. Alternatively, you may just decide to have a nap. Throughout the entire treatment, a technician will be by the chamber to assist you, especially when you go down to the prescribed depth, where you might feel like you’re flying in an airplane, and to handle any needs or inquiries you may have. Lastly, the technician will take your vitals once more at the end of the session.
Hazards, Adverse Reactions, and Healing
A safe, all-natural treatment with few possible hazards or adverse effects is hyperbaric oxygen therapy. It’s among the safest treatment options available. Negative consequences include low blood sugar, transient vision abnormalities, or pressure injuries to the lungs or ears only occur in rare instances for individuals.
There is no recuperation period required following each session of HBOT as it is not a surgical procedure.
The Costs
The cost of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is determined by several variables. First, ascertain if the illness being treated is classified as on-label or off-label. The likelihood of insurance covering a condition treated on-label, or with FDA approval, increases, and the cost to you will be contingent upon your insurance plan. Conversely, there are other off-label diseases, traumas, and other uses for HBOT that have not yet received FDA approval because of its broader spectrum of medical disorders that it can treat. The patient would have to pay for the treatment out of pocket because these are usually not covered by insurance.
The nature of your therapy and the provider’s location may also have an effect on the price. Hospitals typically take most insurance and only offer HBOT for diseases that are prescribed on the label. Nonetheless, hospital costs are frequently higher than those in a doctor’s or specialist’s office. When a patient undergoes HBOT treatments at a hospital, they usually have to pay a co-pay for each session from the hospital and the expert. On the other hand, there may be a single co-pay for each appointment or a smaller co-insurance obligation while receiving care at a private facility. What your insurance plan will cover will determine how much you have to pay out of pocket in total.
Conclusion
The therapeutic effects of elevated oxygen levels in a pressurized atmosphere are harnessed by hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). It is effective in mending and decreasing inflammation in a number of medical disorders. Notwithstanding the possibility of adverse effects, a safe course of therapy is ensured by competent medical advice. With the potential to improve patient outcomes, HBOT is a distinctive healing strategy.
