Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is using high pressure oxygen as a way to treat serious injuries and wounds. It is used for the treatment of decompression which is an illness caused by scuba diving. This treatment is used to treat infections in the body that will not heal. This powerful therapy has been utlized to help heal wounds caused by diabetes, burns, skin grafts, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Many hospitals now use this as a regular treatment because of the successful results. About 2,000 hospitals in the United States offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy! Hospitals only treat illnesses with hyperbaric oxygen therapy that have been scientifically validated by Food and Drug Administration and other professional medical organizations. The hyperbaric oxygen therapy is either given in single or multi person chambers. The patients breathe in pure, pressurized oxygen. The pure oxygen releases chemicals that promote healing and aids in the formation of new blood vessels.
Used to Treat Radiation Therapy and Wounds
It is used to help cancer patients that receive radiation therapy. Radiation can damage the blood vessels and cause damage to bones. It’s been known to cause alarming blood in the urine and kidney damage. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help the body develop new blood vessels leading to healing of the problems associated with radiation. It can promote healing of bones through growth and new tissue. It often takes about 30 to 40 treatments to heal the various side effects of radiation therapy.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is definitely worth considering because in traditional hospitals it’s used for a wide array of conditions. It is used for anemia, air bubbles in your blood, serious infections, wounds, carbon monoxide poisoning, and more. It’s extremely convenient and can even be performed as an outpatient!
Often a single unit has a patient lie down on a table that slides into a clear plastic tube. In a large room a patient may lay or sit down receiving oxygen through a mask. Sometimes, a hood is placed over your head. The air pressure is two or three times higher than normal in the chamber. Therapy usually lasts around two hours. It often takes several treatments to see any results or wound healing. You can typically expect anywhere from 20 to 40 treatments for the wounds to heal.
Successfully Combined With Traditional Therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is often used in combination with other therapies to treat various conditions and diseases. It has been found to shrink the size of the wound and increase the time it takes to heal, which is pretty incredible! It takes about 10 minutes to get used to the treatment/increased pressure which lasts around hour. Similarly, it takes about 10 minutes to return to normal pressure after the treatment.
Some treatments are not approved by certain insurance providers. Check with your insurance before beginning treatment to find out what’s covered. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is often is used in conjunction with traditional wound care, which means it’s most likely to heal serious wounds and infections. Treating wounds effectively often requires a multidisciplinary approach. This mean that wound assessment and wound healing require traditional treatments and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment worth considering because many hospitals around the country use it to treat wounds and infections. It’s used to treat numerous other conditions along with other traditional methods. We understand that infections and wounds that don’t heal are frightening. If you’re currently suffering, definitely contact your doctor to discuss how hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help you.