Everything About Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy 

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Written By Berry Mathew

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a potential clinical treatment that allows patients to breathe pure oxygen. The breathing process is initiated in a controlled, high-pressure environment. It is mainly used as a treatment for decompression sickness. This sickness arises after scuba diving or staying in a considerable oxygen deficit place for a long time. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy also includes treatment of the associated symptoms such as : 

  • Release of entrapped air in patient’s blood vessels
  • Serious injury or infection
  • Wounds resulting from radiation injury or diabetes

In the hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the patient is supplied oxygen at a pressure twice or thrice higher than the normal atmospheric air pressure. Under this high pressure, the lungs can breathe in much more oxygen than it usually does at low pressure. This extra oxygen that the lung receives can relieve decompression sickness. At the same time, the oxygen helps to trigger the release of a stem cell growth factor responsible for conferring immunity and hastens the healing process. 

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Why is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Performed?

here are certain obvious clinical conditions under which hyperbaric oxygen therapy is mainly performed. The primary condition is during decompression sickness, when the body lacks the oxygen needed to survive. The body needs even more oxygen in severe injury to initiate rapid wound healing. During this time, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can increase the blood oxygen level by multi fold and help the normal body tissues secure plenty of oxygen needed for healing. 

There are certain acute medical conditions for which Hyperbaric oxygen therapy works the best. Some of them are:

  • Severe anaemia
  • Arterial gas embolism
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Decompression sickness
  • Gangrene
  • Skin infection
  • Crushing injury
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Vision loss
  • Diabetic ulcers
  • Radiation injury
  • Skin or bone infection causing tissue death

The best hyperbaric oxygen therapy in baton rogue helps to treat these acute medical conditions with care and provides amazing treatment results. The excess oxygen promotes the growth of new tissues and rapid wound healing. This is a boon for the body. 

Risks Associated With Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Certain risks are associated with the best hyperbaric oxygen therapy in baton rogue. It is generally a safe procedure, but it is not risk-free. Some of the risks associated with the treatment are:

  • Lowered blood sugar level. Since this therapy is widely used to treat injuries in diabetics, there is a very common associated risk: a sudden fall in the blood sugar level of patients, especially those over a daily insulin dose therapy.
  • Excess oxygen intake can lead to a condition called oxygen toxicity. It is caused by too much oxygen in the blood and directly affects the central nervous system. If the oxygen level exceeds a certain threshold,  the lungs may collapse under high pressure leading to a condition called Barotrauma. 
  • Hyperbaric oxygen therapy also leads to eardrum rupture, causing fluid leakage in the ear cavity.
  • Myopia or near-sightedness may be a temporary yet concerning after-effect of this therapy. 
  • Some common issues could be dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vertigo. However, these are just the mild after-effects of the treatment and do not need much care or concern. 

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The Treatment

As already described, the treatment is smooth and hassle-free. There aren’t too many complexities. We can divide the procedure into three phases – the preparation, the actual therapy and the post-treatment phase. Let us learn something about each of these phases:

Preparatory Phase

There is little to prepare for. The dress can be changed. All the inflammable items with the patient, such as lighters or certain alcohol-containing or petroleum jelly hair and skin care products, will be removed as these may catch fire under too much oxygen. The healthcare team will help you prepare for the treatment. 

Therapy

The therapy occurs in a specialized unit called the Monoplace Hyperbaric Oxygen Unit. The patient will lie down on a table. This table will slide inside a clear chamber, preferably made of medical-grade fiber plastic. This setup is known as a Monoplace unit. During the treatment, the air pressure inside the chamber will be enhanced by 2 to 3% more than the normal atmospheric oxygen pressure. The increased oxygen pressure will help you breathe better and instil a sense of fullness in the lungs. The primary feelings may be dizziness or nausea, similar to what you experience on an air flight. The therapy will last for two hours. The healthcare unit members will monitor the whole therapy across the treatment. The therapy is instantly withheld if the patient suffers from any discomfort. 

Post-Therapy Phase

Post-therapy procedures will include checking of vitals. If the blood pressure, pulse, and blood glucose level are alright, the patient will be discharged soon. However, the doctor may recommend some follow-up checkups. 

Final Words

If you suffer from decompression sickness or a wound that fails to heal, you may connect with your physician and opt for the best Cleveland Clinic hyperbaric oxygen therapy. It is otherwise safe only with a few concerns. Ensure that you avail of this therapy only under expert medical guidance to get the best results. The therapy process is smooth and easygoing, and it ain’t much expensive.