Hyperbaric oxygen therapy entails sitting comfortably in a pressurized chamber filled with pure oxygen at an increased pressure, to allow blood to carry oxygen more effectively to areas in need of it – an approach which promotes healing by increasing oxygen supply to these parts of the body.
HBOT has also been shown to reduce key autism symptoms such as reduced receptive language ability and impaired facial expressions, by increasing brain perfusion.
1. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is best-known for treating decompression sickness in scuba divers; however, it’s also used for other medical conditions. HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber that raises air pressure five times higher than usual – increasing how much oxygen your lungs can take in and helping heal certain injuries and infections faster. These chambers may be tubes large enough for one person, or rooms large enough to house several individuals and FDA regulations ensure its safety and efficacy.
Treatment sessions last between 90 minutes and 300 minutes. People suffering from chronic wounds or infections can benefit greatly from HBOT therapy; however, before undertaking it on any condition it is wise to discuss it with their healthcare provider first.
HBOT can do more than increase oxygen delivery; it also facilitates wound healing and activates growth factors that stimulate tissue repair and cell growth, making it a suitable treatment option for skin conditions, such as burns, as well as muscle pain associated with arthritis or other injuries.
Some common side effects of HBOT include temporary nearsightedness, which typically affects those with diabetes or over 65. If any changes to your vision occur it’s important to inform your physician as they may provide assistance. Another possible complication includes negative pressure injury to ears caused by inhaling too much oxygen during treatment and oxygen poisoning which occurs if your lungs cannot absorb excess oxygen which could result in fluid build-up, seizures and possibly death.
HBOT may be costly, but Medicare and most health insurance plans cover it for “on-label” (traditional or accepted) indications. Please contact your insurer to determine pre-authorization needs; in many instances HBOT costs less than alternative treatment methods and is covered by workers’ compensation or personal injury policies as well. Several private companies also provide discounted HBOT treatment to patients covered by certain health policies; these patients can receive up to 30 treatments annually from these providers.
2. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a noninvasive and drug-free light-based therapy used for relieving pain and healing tissue damage through photobiomodulation. This powerful tool accelerates and enhances natural healing processes within the body to relieve discomfort, accelerate wound and tissue repair and enhance brain functioning.
LLLT (Low Level Laser Therapy, or “Cold Laser Therapy”) involves subjecting cells and tissues to low levels of red and near infrared (NIR) light, otherwise known as cold laser therapy, that does not produce heat. When NIR light enters cells through mitochondria, photochemical reactions take place which increase energy availability for cell metabolism, decreasing oxidative stress while simultaneously increasing ATP production and metabolic activity; additionally LLLT stimulates fibroblast development which is crucial in creating new tissue formation and wound repair.
Studies have demonstrated that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can accelerate tissue repair by stimulating new blood vessel growth and increasing circulation to speed tissue healing. Furthermore, LLLT may reduce inflammation and pain while strengthening and flexibleening healed tissues structures. Furthermore, it may treat conditions like diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) by stimulating proliferation of granulation tissue proliferation while improving skin elasticity.
Preconditioning with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can be an exciting application of LLLT for patients suffering from hypoxic injury or illness. By treating tissues with LLLT before subjecting them to stressful events such as surgery or anesthesia, such as preconditioning can induce protective stress responses in the body that reduce edema, swelling and postoperative discomfort significantly.
LLLT has also proven effective at treating nerve-related conditions like neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia and neuropathy. One study showed LLLT to decrease pain intensity among fibromyalgia patients as well as improving muscle strength, joint movement and range of motion for those suffering with chronic musculoskeletal disorders.
Researchers have revealed that Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) can reduce both frequency and duration of flare-ups of chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and inflammatory bowel disease. Furthermore, its use has even shown to decrease symptoms related to dementia/Alzheimer’s such as anxiety outbursts, wandering behaviors and anger outbursts; using Erchonia’s FDA-cleared medical-grade laser therapy devices physicians and healthcare professionals can incorporate LLLT into their practices for relieving various painful musculoskeletal conditions.
3. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic gastrointestinal disease characterized by inflammation and ulceration of your large intestine (also called your colon). Although treating this condition can be challenging, new therapies exist which can help manage symptoms – one being hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), which uses pure oxygen under high pressure to promote healing by decreasing inflammation while increasing blood flow to affected areas.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has proven its efficacy for treating various forms of inflammatory bowel disease. For instance, it’s often prescribed to patients suffering from refractory ulcerative colitis who do not respond to conventional treatments, including steroids. A recent study demonstrated that patients receiving HBOT experienced reduced symptoms and an enhanced quality of life; researchers also concluded that HBOT reduced surgical needs as it successfully decreased colectomy-related surgeries.
HBOT may work by stimulating colonic stem cells and offering anti-inflammatory effects, while its benefits likely arise from its ability to increase oxygen levels in blood plasma and improve tissue vascularization and oxygenation rates. Hyperbaric oxygen can also prevent reperfusion injury which occurs when oxygen-deprived tissues receive fresh blood supply resulting in significant tissue damage from reperfusion injury.
HBOT can be used to treat various conditions, including brain injuries, decompression sickness and wounds. Furthermore, it has also proven effective against refractory ulcerative colitis where immune response becomes abnormally active despite conventional medical intervention.
To receive HBOT, you will lie or sit in a chamber that has been pressurized three times normal air pressure. Your ears may become blocked with increased pressure but can be relieved by swallowing or chewing gum – sessions typically last anywhere from 45-300 minutes.
HBOT can be an expensive treatment, but some insurance providers may cover its cost. Furthermore, its expenses may qualify as tax deductions under the Affordable Care Act; but before getting any treatment you should check with your insurer first.
4. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for Brain Injury
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) can provide vital oxygen to tissues in need, and help facilitate healing after severe head trauma. By forcing more oxygen into blood vessels and into tissue such as the brain that are lacking it. This therapy promotes faster healing times.
Breathing 100% pure oxygen while inhaling pressurized air in an enclosed chamber or pod that can accommodate one or more individuals at the same time is called hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOAT), and the pressure level can reach up to 2.8 atmospheres absolute (ATA). HBOAT therapy is most frequently used to treat decompression sickness and carbon monoxide poisoning but has proven useful in other conditions involving oxygen deprivation such as brain injury.
Studies of HBOT for mild traumatic brain injury and persistent postconcussion syndrome have demonstrated its benefits by decreasing headache, increasing sleep quality and improving cognitive processing speed and memory. It can also reduce symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as irritability and anxiety. Finally, HBOT may help enhance balance and vestibular symptoms in TBI patients as well as functional ability in stroke victims.
Researchers first began exploring HBOT as a treatment for TBI in the 1960s due to its ability to slow brain cell death and suppress inflammation. Studies of its effectiveness on humans with TBI have been limited due to ethical considerations associated with life-threatening injuries; however, recent research indicates that HBOT can increase quality of life for these individuals by improving cognitive and behavioural functions as well as decreasing inflammation.
Evidence is strongest when obtained through randomized controlled trials that use placebo control groups and assess immediate symptomatic and cognitive outcomes. We searched both Cochrane Systematic Review Database and PubMed for adult clinical studies published in English regarding HBOT or TBI treatments; those incorporating a randomization procedure were only considered for final analysis.
HBOT can be effective in treating certain conditions, but it’s wise to consult your physician prior to beginning treatment with it. While HBOT may help some people, some may experience side effects including claustrophobia, fatigue, sinus pain and nearsightedness – although more serious risks include lung collapse, seizures, embolisms or oxygen poisoning.
