Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an innovative method to treat various ailments in a non-invasive, natural way to promote wound healing and recovery. A hyperbaric medicine specialist can utilize hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to effectively treat conditions such as but not limited to chronic diabetic ulcers, radiation injury, arterial ulcers and compromised flaps. This post will discuss the field of hyperbaric medicine as well as how specialists in the field might be able to expedite your body’s natural healing abilities.
Understanding Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
Hyperbaric medicine involves the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), a treatment that uses pressurized chambers to deliver highly concentrated oxygen into the body.
In an HBOT chamber you breathe in pure, 100% oxygen. This is a stark contrast compared to the regular air we breathe everyday, which the FDA reports is generally a lower percentage of oxygen, roughly 21%. The pressure variation created in the air chamber results in a large difference in how oxygen is delivered to your tissues as your lungs are able to collect and disperse more oxygen due to its high concentration.
This increased pressure allows you to circulate more oxygen throughout your body, providing support for injured tissues and improving the overall processes of recovery and wound healing specifically.
The Role of a Hyperbaric Medicine Specialist
Our team at Vayu Hyperbarics specializes in hyperbaric oxygen therapy for wound healing and related complications.
Here are a few ways in which we help our patients:
- Complete Assessment and Treatment Plan: By going through your medical history and your current situation thoroughly, our specialist will be able to decide if one can benefit from HBOT as a mode of treatment. They will assess what condition may have caused your particular problems and then evaluate whether HBOT can work in conjunction with an already existing form of therapy.
- Personalized HBOT Sessions: Our hyperbaric medicine specialists conduct HBO therapy sessions depending on your personal needs. They also establish the levels of pressure required for your treatment, and the specific oxygen concentration and duration needed for each session, basing their conclusions on your condition, which in turn leads to effective results and safe treatment.
- Monitoring and Safety: Your specialist will closely monitor you throughout the HBOT session to ensure that your vital statistics are within normal ranges. Any uneasiness will be attended to immediately. Your safety and comfort is our top priority.
- Patient Education: A hyperbaric medicine specialist plays a key role in educating patients on HBOT, what it can do for them, and any side effects they should expect. Our team will answer all your questions and address all concerns you may have.
Conditions Benefiting from Hyperbaric Medicine
Some of the conditions for which HBOT treatment has been approved include:
- Chronic Wounds: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be used to heal wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers and pressure ulcers, especially those that have not been able to heal using other methods of treatment.
- Radiation Damage: Roughly one-third of patients who undergo HBOT do so due to complications from radiation exposure. HBOT can help them overcome several of the complications that arise from other therapies like cancer radiation treatments.
- Decompression Sickness: For divers suffering from decompression sickness, HBOT can raise blood oxygen levels quickly to decrease bubble formation.
- Gas Embolism: When air or gas bubbles block your blood vessels, they could be fatal. HBOT works to provide extra oxygen to remove these gas bubbles.
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: HBOT therapy is a life-saving treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning, as it increases oxygen delivery to the damaged tissues.
- Sudden Hearing Loss: HBOT can potentially improve sudden hearing loss by increasing oxygen flow into the inner ear.
- Acute Traumatic Brain Injury: Research indicates that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may facilitate healing after a traumatic brain injury through its anti-inflammatory and tissue regenerating effects.
Beyond Approved Uses
The field of Hyperbaric medicine is changing quickly. Some specialists may provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy in addition to other treatments for the following conditions:
- Migraine headaches
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Pervasive developmental disorders
- Traumatic brain injury
It’s important to talk with your physician about utilizing HBOT for these treatments to understand the possible risks and advantages.
Considering Hyperbaric Medicine?
If you are not healing well from a long-term wound, are suffering from radiation related tissue damage, or are wondering about the potential advantages of HBOT for a particular condition, make sure to see your family doctor. They may refer you to a licensed expert of hyperbaric medicine who will examine your case and decide if HBOT can be included as a part of your treatment regimen.
Vayu Hyperbarics: The Ideal Place for Healing
At Vayu Hyperbarics, we believe in the transformative power of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Our team of committed and experienced HBOT specialists ensures that you get personalized, evidence-based treatments in a safe, compassionate manner. We work with your doctor to ensure the best treatment plan for you.
Learn how HBOT can help you
HBOT uses the natural benefits of pure oxygen to help your body heal naturally. To learn more about HBOT and to find out how it can help you, call us at 210-651-1112 or book an appointment online today.