block blood flow.


Besides divers and climbers, individuals with heart defects, asthma and lung dis- ease can develop decompression sickness, as can older and susceptible individuals traveling from sea-level to high-altitude locations.


Traditionally administered in a hospital setting, today there are private facilities across the U.S. offering hyperbaric treat- ment for general wellness. Hyper-oxygen- ating the body has proven to be safe and healthful for civilians and landlubbers alike, so you don't need to suffer "the bends" in order to seek the benefits.


The Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy


The healing mechanism of HBOT involves increasing the percentage of oxygen that is available for tissue repair. First used in the early 20th century to successfully treat someone dying from the flu, HBOT re- duces swelling while flooding the tissues with oxygen.


By returning blood supply to oxygen- starved tissues, HBOT prevents "reperfu- sion injury," the severe tissue damage caused by oxygen deprivation. HBOT also helps block the action of harmful bacteria, encourages formation of new connective tissue and skin cells through collagen generation, and is believed to strengthen the immune system.


HBOT is recognized as generally safe with a low risk of complications. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared HBOT for injuries such as wounds, necrotizing infections, burns, radiation injury and carbon monoxide poisoning, individuals receiving HBOT from a quali- fied private facility for general wellness are likely to pay out-of-pocket since health insurance is unlikely to cover off-label uses. Depending on the nature of healing that is sought, successful HBOT treatment may require as many as 40 treatments.


How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Works


HBOT requires the recipient to lie inside of a pressurized, sealed chamber while breathing highly oxygenated air for a specified period, generally from 30 min- utes up to two hours for non-life-threaten- ing conditions. Oxygen chambers can be constructed of rigid or flexible materials but must be airtight with the means of introducing near-100% oxygenated air.


Multi-person chambers are more common outside of a hospital setting. Multiple re- cipients may be in the chamber at the same time, typically in a seated posture with oxygen administered individually via oxy- gen masks or head hoods.


Participants are encouraged to rest and relax during treatment but may experience mildly unpleasant sensations such as ear


pressure changes like those experienced when taking off in an airplane, or feelings of claustrophobia, fatigue or headache. Individuals with a cold or fever should not seek hyperbaric therapy, nor should those with recent ear trauma or treatment for ear problems, or certain types of lung disease.


HBOT is considered by some to be the most overlooked and effective prescription drug. It has demonstrated effectiveness in treating neurological disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, possibly due to enhanced neurogenesis or healthy replica- tion of nervous system cells, which has been observed in clinical trials.


HBOT has shown promise in treating nerve pain, headaches and diseases of inflammation such as inflammatory bowel disease. With HBOT acting to re- duce inflamed tissues, the potential for healing applications is virtually limitless.


Hyperbaric Therapy: The New Anti- Inflammatory 'Drug'?


Depression is another neurological condi- tion with possible inflammatory roots. A study released in May 2020 explored the use of HBOT to treat post-stroke depres- sion, or PSD, a common after-effect of stroke that may go untreated, especially in developing countries.


In this meta-analysis, seven electronic databases were comprehensively searched for randomized clinical trials on HBOT


Gina Davis, FNP-C Gina Davis is a Board-Certified


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www.RobinhoodIntegrativeHealth.com Gina Davis, FNP-C


Family Nurse Practitioner. She has been a nurse since 2003 and has specialized in diabetes management for the past10 years. She is commit- ted to helping others achieve their health potential physically, emo- tionally, and spiritually using a ho- listic approach.She is excited to help those looking to enhance their over- all health for thyroid, bioidentical hormones, autoimmune diseases, and many other issues. Let her help you to achieve Health as it Ought to Be.


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