HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy) rests on the simple thesis of instructing patients to breathe in pure oxygen delivered under high atmospheric pressure in acrylic chambers. The logic behind the process is rather simple: the inhalation of pure oxygen under increased baric levels will lead to the greater absorption of the gas by the blood stream. Once this happens, then oxygen will be supplied in greater quantities to the different organs and tissues, and the process of healing damaged tissues and cells will be accelerated. With sustained treatment in hyperbaric chambers, the concentration of oxygen in various organs and tissues will increase by a major percent. Doctors and researchers even say that the cellular content of oxygen with regular HBOT therapy can help to sustain the body without blood for a couple of days.
Doctors recommend this non-invasive therapy as a complementary method of treatment that can be undertaken simultaneously with medication, and psychiatric intervention. HBOT therapy has been recommended for a lot of ailments and severely debilitating conditions, like autism, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, cerebral palsy, air embolism, variety of skin diseases etc.
Although there are not many publications that authenticate the effectiveness of this therapy, a lot of patients have reported positive improvements in their health conditions. This therapy is usually recommended for autistic children, and parents and care givers have repeatedly reported of the improvements in the health conditions. There has been marked improvement in skills like communication with parents and peer group, ability to retain facts and figures, formulate one’s thoughts and emotions in coherent patterns of language. The increased supply of oxygen helps to improve the flow of blood to those parts of the brain that have been affected by limited supply. Moreover, the tissues and cells are also revitalized, and heal much quickly in case of damage.
Although it is safe to undergo this therapy in a clinic under the guidance of trained test administrators, or even at home, patients and relatives must be aware of a few side-effects that may occur. The most common side effect is pain, or a ringing sensation in the ear. This is mainly experienced when the pressure levels in the chamber are fluctuating, that is, the pressure is either being increased to meet the norms of HBOT therapy, or it is being decreased to the levels of the ambient atmosphere. Serious complications are very rare indeed. Patients might often experience oxygen toxicity, and such a condition might result in respiratory illnesses and seizures. To avoid any such complications, the patient must be instructed to breathe normally, and doctors and test administrators need to be vigilant.
Complications arising from HBOT therapy are extremely rare. Moreover, the chambers are adequately protected any accidental outbreak of fire, and test administrators are constantly present and vigilant during an ongoing session. HBOT therapy is beneficial for people of all age groups, and since it is non-invasive, it is highly recommended by doctors as a complimentary therapy to reduce the harmful effect of chemicals.
