Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a form of treatment where the patient is exposed to pure oxygen in a pressurized room or chamber. It was popularized in the 1600s by a British clergyman named Henshaw. Ultimately, the goal is to restore normal body function and repair tissues by flooding your blood with enough oxygen.

Could hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Fort Worth be what you need for that stubborn wound, carbon monoxide poisoning, or infection?

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

As mentioned, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a non-invasive treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber or room. The oxygen levels are usually set to 3 times the normal air pressure. Two types of chambers are used in the treatment. They are:

• Monoplace chamber – The monoplace chamber is built to accommodate one person at a time. It resembles an MRI machine, and you must slip into it for treatment.
• Multiplace chamber – The treatment in a multiplace chamber is generally the same. However, patients breathe oxygen through hoods and masks. The chamber is also designed to fit two or more people.

Benefits of HBOT Therapy

Human beings need oxygen to survive. The air we breathe contains both oxygen and other components such as water vapor and carbon dioxide. So, what benefits would you reap from breathing pure oxygen? Here are some ways HBOT helps your body:

Promotes Wound Healing

When you are wounded, your blood vessels are damaged. The surrounding tissues are then starved of oxygen and could start to die. HBOT delivers pure oxygen to these oxygen-starved tissues. As a result, it breaks the cycle of swelling and tissue death and promotes wound healing.

Strengthens Your Immune System

Oxygen helps your tissues resist infection. If you are exposed to bacteria, the influx of oxygen from HBOT can boost your immune system. This will better help your body ward off any diseases as well as get rid of bacteria.

Prevents Tissue Damage

If your body is exposed to significant trauma, blood flow to your tissues can be interrupted. This could lead to the release of harmful oxygen radicals that could stop blood flow. The result is a reperfusion injury, otherwise called severe tissue damage. HBOT restores the oxygen supply to the affected tissues.

Promotes Collagen Production

HBOT encourages collagen and skin cell production. Aside from promoting healing, this can also improve your skin’s appearance.

Conditions Treated Through HBOT

Currently, HBOT is used to treat people suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. It is also crucial in the treatment of scuba divers suffering from depressurization. Other approved uses of HBOT include treating the following:

• Accident injuries
• Cyanide poisoning
• Flesh-eating disease
• Radiation injury
• Air embolism
• Diabetic wounds
• Bone infection or osteomyelitis
• Compromised skin grafts
• Gas gangrene
• Acute inadequate blood flow in the arteries
• Chronic infections such as actinomycosis

Takeaway

HBOT is an advanced treatment. The exposure to pure oxygen works by supporting your body’s natural healing processes. Depending on your condition, this can work to treat slow-healing wounds, ulcers, diabetic wounds, or stubborn infections.

If you are considering HBOT, contact Wound Evolution – Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine to schedule a consultation with a specialist.