Hyperbaric oxygen therapy allows you will breathe 100 percent pure oxygen under increased pressure. This level is much higher than the 21 percent oxygen found in room air. The air inside the hyperbaric chamber can be compressed up to three times the pressure found at sea level. This pressure is similar to that which is felt when diving underwater down to 66 feet. The combination of high pressure and pure oxygen drives the life-giving oxygen into the bloodstream at a very high concentration so that it can spread deep into the body tissues to help fight many types of illness.
Respiratory Therapy
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Medical City Plano answeredIf you are getting hyperbaric oxygen therapy you should tell your medical provider about any heart or lung problems that you have. You should also tell your healthcare provider if you have a pacemaker or pump in your body, and any medications that you take. Some of these things may be contraindicated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. -
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See All 2 AnswersCandidates for hyperbaric oxygen therapy are people who have a wound and have tried traditional wound healing strategies and have not healed in an appropriate amount of time. For certain wounds, hyperbaric oxygen treatments may be indicated to help if all else fails. This can be used for people of all ages. Medical clearance is required before a person can undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Trinity Health is a Catholic health care organization that acts in accordance with the Catholic tradition and does not condone or support all practices covered in this site. In case of emergency call 911. This site is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider.
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Lakeview Hospital answeredHyperbaric oxygen therapy usually involves treatment every day, Monday through Friday, for two hours per session. You may receive 30 minutes of oxygen and a five-minute break three times.
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Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answeredHyperbaric oxygen therapy (HbOT) entails reclining within a pressurized chamber with varying degrees of increasing atmospheric pressure. It is believed that as the oxygen level increases throughout the body, circulation is enhanced, inflammation is reduced, and white blood cells are stimulated to remove toxins. This pure oxygen is also said to destroy harmful bacteria. HbOT is not new. It has long been used to treat deep-sea divers with decompression sickness or "the bends."
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NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answeredSee All 2 Answers
Originally this treatment was used to help divers who developed decompression sickness, commonly called "the bends", when they came to the surface too quickly. The treatment is still used for the bends, but is also used to treat many other diseases, including:
- Wounds. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides diabetic ulcers, radiation injury, damaged soft tissues and chronic non-healing wounds with extra oxygen to support the growth of new blood vessels that can replace those which may have been damaged.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning. For individuals suffering from smoke inhalation, hyperbaric oxygen forces the toxic gasses out of the blood stream and provides extra amounts of oxygen to help damaged tissues recover more rapidly.
- Infections. Hyperbaric oxygen augments the body's ability to kill bacteria in wounds such as gas gangrene or bone infections.
Other conditions. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be provided in conjunction with other treatments. Depending on the specific problem, treatment may be provided in conjunction with recommendations by our physicians or those prescribed by other NewYork-Presbyterian physicians. This collaboration provides you with the most advanced and effective treatment options available.
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NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answeredSee All 2 AnswersThe treatment is generally painless. Patients sit comfortably or recline during the treatment, while resting or watching television. You will experience a sense of fullness in the ears at the beginning and end of treatment as the pressure is adjusted. The sensation is similar to that which is felt when flying in an airplane or diving under water.
You will be taught a simple maneuver to avoid ear discomfort. Some patients will hear a crackling noise in their ears between treatments, which is relieved using the same pressure maneuvers. If the crackling continues it should be reported to the staff.
Some patients feel light-headed for a few moments following the treatment, but this is generally very brief. -
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COPD Foundation answeredWhen you have chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD), low oxygen levels are actually caused by the failure of blood vessels in your lungs to connect with the air sacs that contain oxygen. Your lungs may still be able to support that connection, but you may be short of breath due to other factors, such as hyperinflation, retained carbon dioxide and a flattened diaphragm, increasing your work of breathing. -
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COPD Foundation answeredMedicare will not pay for any utility bills as a result of the use of your oxygen equipment if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and require supplemental oxygen. In some cases, the direct costs of operating your oxygen equipment are deductible as a medical expense. Some utilities have programs to help lessen this cost. Check with your electricity provider. The COPD Foundation Disaster Preparedness Plan also includes these forms.
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COPD Foundation answeredSome brands of concentrators run quieter, produce less heat or use less electricity than others. This is important to know if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and your doctor has prescribed oxygen therapy. Oxygen concentrators can be very expensive to run and the cost of electricity is not covered under Medicare reimbursement. Your oxygen supplier may have a purchase agreement with a certain company in order to get lower pricing. That does not mean you have to accept that particular equipment. This is when it pays to do your homework. Ask other oxygen users about their equipment. Ask about reliability, noise level, cost of running it and if it produces a lot of heat. However, they are also not obligated to go out and buy a brand of equipment that you request. Your choice is still dependent on the oxygen suppliers current inventory.