Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a noninvasive and painless treatment, the modality of which is nearly 300 years old, and which has been applied worldwide for the past three decades with astonishing results. HBOT involves breathing 100% pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, and it can be used to treat or improve any condition that benefits from making available extra oxygen to the body’s tissues or the brain. During HBOT treatment, your lungs can take in up to 3 times more oxygen, allowing it to be picked up via the bloodstream and transported to damaged tissues throughout the body. The extra oxygen delivered through HBOT has remarkable results on the natural healing process of the body with ultimately no ill side effects.
During HBOT treatments, the patient enters a special chamber, which is slowly pressurized with 100% oxygen. It forces oxygen into the body in a completely painless manner, causing oxygen to dissolve into all of the body’s fluids, including the plasma, lymph, and the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Through this process, damaged areas where circulation is poor or blocked are trickled and filled with the extra oxygen, allowing natural healing to take place.
HBOT helps deliver oxygen-rich plasma to tissue starved for oxygen. It increases the amount of oxygen in the blood and floods the tissues with oxygen. It reduces swelling, strengthens the immune system, fights infection, encourages the formation of new collagen (connective tissue) and new skin cells through new blood vessel formation, improves physical function and health-related quality of life, and promotes natural healing and relief from a multitude of uncomfortable symptoms.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a proven way to treat a wide range of conditions and injuries, from traumatic brain injuries (TBI) to chronic infection, common sports injuries, diabetic wounds, inadequate blood flow in the arteries, and many more. As a full service free-standing provider of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, we are able to care for patients with a wide range of medical conditions. The FDA currently recognizes Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for 14 medical conditions, all of which are generally covered by insurance. In addition, there are many other medical conditions for which HBOT has demonstrated efficacy. For a complete list of conditions, please check out our “Approved Conditions” and “Off-Label Conditions” sections.
Every patient is unique. The number of treatments depends on your condition(s) and your response to treatment. Since Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy works cumulatively in the body, the greatest benefits are seen when treatments are regular.
Generally, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a very comfortable and safe procedure with little if any discomfort. Some patients may feel slight discomfort in their ears, including popping sounds and ears being plugged, similar to the sensation during takeoff and landing in an airplane. Usually, this feeling subsides once the chamber reaches optimal pressure. You will be accompanied by our trained staff all throughout your treatment to ensure that you are safe and comfortable.
Because HBOT is helpful for a wide range of conditions, the doctor will evaluate your medical history and present health to determine if you qualify for treatment. HBOT can be beneficial for many diagnoses. Some of these include:
The FDA currently recognizes Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for 14 medical conditions, all of which are generally covered by insurance. For a complete list of approved conditions, please check out our “Approved Conditions” section.
Our state of the art hyperbaric chambers are one of the few 100% oxygen monoplace chambers that are FDA-approved. These chambers provide the highest levels of quality and reliability. The FDA regulates both the oxygen used in HBOT and the hyperbaric chambers.
Before you begin your Hyperbaric oxygen therapy session, there are a few necessary and simple preparations. Speak with your healthcare provider for a referral to our facility. Stay away from caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated beverages prior to treatment. For best results tobacco products and smoking should be avoided during the weeks of your treatment. If possible, wear 100% cotton comfortable clothing to your treatment. We will also provide cotton garments and shoe covers if you so require. Do not bring synthetic clothing, hair pieces, cellphones, ointments, battery-powered devices such as hearing aids and watches, and other personal items into the chamber. Please note that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may change the effects of some medications. Therefore, your primary doctor may need to make some adjustments. Please make sure the hyperbaric doctor knows ahead of time what prescription and over the counter drugs you are taking. If you need to take any medications during treatment, please inform us as well so that you may take them as needed. Clean your ears thoroughly to ensure that your ears are clear of excessive wax. If you’ve had any issues pertaining to your ears, including an ear infection, water in your ears, ear surgery, a sinus infection, etc, please discuss with your primary doctor prior to treatment and also inform our knowledgeable team.
There is little to no sensation while undergoing HBO therapy. You’ll relax in a transparent, atmosphere-controlled chamber that allows freedom of movement. While in the chamber, you just breathe normally, inhaling pure, healing 100% oxygen. During times of pressurization and decompression, you may experience some popping sensations or buildup in your ears. This is due to the pressure changes. This feeling is similar to flying in a plane. A technician, who will be present all throughout your treatment, will show you how to relieve this fullness, avoiding any discomfort during treatment. As the chamber pressurizes and decompresses, you will hear a hissing sound and some variation in temperature, which usually lasts about 10-15 minutes. Once the chamber reaches optimal pressure, you should feel absolutely normal, and any uncomfortable sensations in the ears will go away. The treatment typically lasts from 45 minutes to 2 hours. You may read, sleep, rest, listen to music, or watch television during this time. After the completion of treatment, some patients report feeling somewhat light headed for a few minutes, but the patients are soon able to continue with their normal daily activity.
HBOT generally is a completely safe, noninvasive procedure. At our state of the art facility HBOT treatments are delivered by certified, experienced medical professionals who ensure that your treatment is both safe and comfortable. We follow every safety protocol with great care. Our team is skilled, highly trained, professional, compassionate, and responsive. Hyperbaric oxygen is usually well tolerated with very few side-effects. As with all medical treatments, hyperbaric oxygen therapy includes medical risks, and rare but possible side effects may occur.