Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a procedure which can be useful for treating a number of medical conditions. It is said to be very effective at treating conditions such as cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis. There are minor health issues which can be treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy as well. A few examples of this include frequent headaches and migraines.
There is not enough scientific evidence to back up the efficiency of this practice but it is a respected medical treatment which has given positive results to most patients that have used it. There are many different conditions which have been slated as treatable with the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Take a look below to find out about some of the conditions that will be treatable with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning, often caused by vehicle exhaust or excessive exposure to smoke.
- Injuries which cause a cut off or reduction of blood flow, such as frostbite and compartment syndrome.
- Anemia, which is where an extreme amount of blood is lost.
- Osteomyelitis, which is a bone infection.
- Intracranial abscess, which is where the brain stores an excess of pus.
- Radiation injuries, sometimes delayed. For instance, post-treatment for cancer could lead to burns from radiation.
- Thermal burns, which are received from a fire or electric heating device.
How Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Work
This treatment is based around a closed chamber. This is where the patient will lie during the procedure. During this treatment, the atmospheric pressure will be increased within the closed chamber. The temperature inside the closed chamber will be set to a certain amount for the treatment. Once that temperature is reached, the patient will receive 100% oxygen within the closed chamber for the duration of the treatment.
The oxygen is inhaled via a hood and it will be provided at certain set or manually managed intervals. During these breaks the patient will be breathing air from within the closed chamber instead of from the hood. The air from the hood is 100% oxygen while the air in the closed chamber is 21% oxygen.
Usually the hyperbaric oxygen chamber will be used for a single patient but some of them are designed to hold two (or more) patients at once. In certain situations it may be required for a caretaker to enter the closed chamber with the patient.
There are many variables for the treatment which can be controlled by the health care professional that is managing the procedure. Certain variables include the treatment duration, quantity of sessions, and the pressure used during the treatment. These variables will all be factored by the condition of the patient. Also, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is most commonly performed in either a private clinic or hospital.
Finding Out About Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
This article has only begun to discuss how hyperbaric oxygen therapy works. If interested in this treatment then you should complete some further research on the subject. There are many different conditions that can be treated by using hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Some have many positive results from past patients that have used but there are no guaranteed results with this treatment procedure.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a very expensive treatment procedure so it is important to make sure that it is the right option for you. The cost of the procedure may be less expensive with the proper health care if done at a hospital. Additionally, there are a few risks that come with the hyperbaric oxygen therapy procedure. However, there should be no issues if the chamber is installed correctly and the operator and hyperbaric physician know what they are doing.
Final Thoughts
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be very effective for curing a wide variety of health conditions and it should be a considered treatment choice for those conditions. However, there is still quite a bit that has to be learned about using hyperbaric oxygen therapy for certain conditions. There are also a number of possible side effects that are associated with the treatment. Therefore, it is very important that you research the treatment ahead of time and speak with your doctor or a hyperbaric physician before using the treatment.
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