Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, HBOT
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, or HBOT, is a medical treatment during which patients breathe 100% oxygen under hyperbaric (air pressure higher than sea level) conditions. This is done while sitting or lying comfortably inside a pressurized chamber. While in the hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, oxygen diffuses into the body, even into damaged tissues at the cellular level.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy saturates the patient's plasma with oxygen resulting in increased oxygen delivery to tissues. Specifically, hyperbaric oxygen therapy promotes healing through enhancing white blood cell activity and initiating formation of new peripheral vascular vessels and nerve endings in damaged areas. Pressurized oxygen has healing capabilities. Oxygen expands and gets into the tissues and stimulates formation of new blood vessels, which leads to healing.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can promote healing in the brain and improve cognitive function. It may improve attention, concentration, the ability to follow directions, and hyperactivity.
Approved uses for HBOT are :
- Refractory osteomyelitis
- Radiation damage to body tissue
- Stimulation of formation of new blood vessels
- Decompression sickness
- Wounds that do not heal
- Diabetic ulcers
- Carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation
It may also be used to treat a number of conditions including soft tissue injury, traumatic brain injury, chronic fatigue, cerebral palsy, stroke, candidiasis, allergies, autism, auto-immune disorders, heavy metal poisoning, infections, multiple sclerosis and Lyme disease.
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