FAQs | Mysite

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)?

HBOT is a method of delivering extra oxygen into the body, mainly through the process of increasing the pressure that the body is normally under. In terms of HBOT, pressure is normally quantified in ATA and currently we are all standardized to be less than 1.0 ATA of atmospheric pressure. When someone undergoes hyperbaric therapy, the pressure becomes greater than 1.0 ATA and in hospitals and wound care centers can typically reach 2.0 or even 3.0 ATA. Each atmospheric pressure represents 33 feet of seawater so at 2.0 ATA, it would be equivalent for you to be at a depth of 33 feet below sea level. Once at this depth, 100%oxygen will be administered for the full duration of the treatment, which normally lasts for 60 to 90 minutes per session, and this procedure can be repeated twice per day with a 4-hour break in between. For chronic or hard-to-heal wounds, this dosage is typically repeated Daily from anywhere between 10 and 80 hours. The FDA approves hyperbaric treatments for the following 13 Conditions:

Decompression sickness, gas embolism, CO and Cyanide poisoning, gas gangrene, selected aerobic and anaerobic soft tissue infections, Osteomyelitis, Intracranial abscess, management of fungal disease, radiation injury to tissue, exceptional blood loss/anemia, crush injury/compartment syndrome, ischemia reperfusion injuries, skin grafts and flaps, healing in selected problem wounds, treatment of thermal burns

Many doctors and clinical researchers in the field of hyperbaric medicine believe that HBOT may help many more conditions and improve the quality of life. Please be aware that if you are using this to treat a medical condition other than the 13 above conditions, then the FDA considers this an ‘off-label’ treatment and wishes you to make sure that you have sought out all FDA-approved treatments first and fully understand the benefit to risk ratio before making your decision.

What is Mild Hyperbaric Therapy (m-HBT)?

m-HBT represents a lower pressurized chamber, generally under 1.5 ATA, and typically at 1.3 ATA. These lower atmospheric pressures (representing roughly only 10 feet below sea level) allow for greater safety, while still allowing for the delivery of much higher levels of oxygen into the tissues. The FDA has cleared m-HBT as an approved treatment for those suffering from altitude sickness, where oxygen levels can become dangerously low at higher elevations -- a condition that can be life threatening. The extra oxygen delivered through m-HBT is so significant that it can be enough to help reverse this life-threatening condition!

Benefits of Mild Hyperbaric Therapy (m-HBT):

Again, one of the key determinants of HBT is pressure and the greater the pressure, the greater the amount of dissolved oxygen into the body – Note, it does not take much pressure to deliver extra amounts of physiologically available oxygen. During m-HBT, the added pressure allows extra oxygen to be absorbed and transferred from the lungs into the blood, causing a greater saturation of blood oxygen levels. As this rich oxygenated blood makes its way to damaged tissue, extra oxygen is now readily available and can be potentially utilized for enhancing tissue repair and regeneration while also still being able to provide its potent anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects. Although these lower pressures have been both reported to have significant benefits, which are now being supported and validated through clinical research trials, we would still encourage you to follow the FDA guidelines in looking in to ‘medically-approved’ options if you are looking at using m-HBT to help with a medical condition.

What is Targeted Hyperbaric Therapy (t-HBT)?

t-HBT is ‘targeted’ hyperbaric therapy. Here, near Infrared Light Therapy is combined with HBT in order to increase the oxygen levels to localized tissue. Normally this is done in combination with m-HBT (low pressure chambers) to help increase the dose of oxygen delivered to localized tissue without increasing the systemic blood oxygen levels that would normally be required to reach these thresholds needed in localized tissue. Basically it ‘points’ to an area of the body to help deliver the effects of HBT to that focused area. Both therapies have been individually shown to exert positive effects, but the combined approach has recently been reported to have much greater effects. While still in it’s research phase, t-HBT may prove to be a powerful tool to localizing the effects of HBT.

Do I have to breath 100% oxygen or ambient air?

Traditionally, hyperbaric oxygen is defined as breathing 100% oxygen under pressure. However, ambient air still contains 21% oxygen, and when you breathe it under pressure, more oxygen will get transferred into the body. More importantly, the extra oxygen is in the blood plasma (liquid) and gets oxygen into areas much deeper (i.e., where inflammation impedes blood flow) and in places where red blood cells cannot physically get into. This is a great technique to achieve greater levels of oxygen without the associated risks of being in high oxygen environments.

What is the recommended schedule?

The reported benefits using HBT or m-HBT have typically been from those who have had one to two sessions per day (with a 4-hour interval between the start of each session for those who have 2 sessions per day). People who live nearby may choose to do one session daily. The end result is the same. The leading proponents of HBT recommend a minimum of 20 sessions and preferably up to 40 in the initial schedule. Following 40 sessions, you may re-evaluate for discernible benefits before proceeding. If you have local areas of concern, you may combine this procedure with Near Infrared Light therapy, providing a focused approach, which we have found has even provided noticeable benefits when applied once or twice per week. Some individuals use m-HBT as an energizer booster (1 session or less than 10) or a preconditioning in which they gain benefits with only 10 sessions. Frequency is the key to whatever program you decide to undertake.

How long does each treatment last?

Typically, sessions last a minimum of 60 minutes. Pressurizing the chamber takes 5-10 minutes (up to 25 min.). At the therapeutic depth you will receive a timed 60 minutes session (on average), after which we depressurize (5-10 mins.) Allow up to 1.5 hours for each treatment session.

What type of chamber is used?

Our chamber is an OxyHealth Vitaeris 320 hyperbaric chamber that goes to a depth of 1.3ATA, allowing you to use the option of either filtered room air or higher oxygen concentrations through the use of an Air-Sep Medical Oxygen Concentrator. Our chamber provides a free-flow system of air, allowing the internal environment to remain continually fresh, while providing added safety measures for eliminating any fire concerns, by not allowing oxygen levels to build up to dangerous levels. OxyHealth hyperbaric chambers have had a flawless record in clinical activities.

How does it feel?

As the chamber is being pressurized, air presses on your eardrums and pushes them inwards. This pressure feels similar to the pressure that you feel in your ears when you are flying in an airplane. The majority of people (90%) automatically and easily adjust to these pressure changes, while reporting no adverse effects. If you are in the 10% minority, then the only problem that you may experience with this is either discomfort or pain in Your ears or sinuses, similar to that which you would feel if you were congested while landing from an airplane. The only difference is that you ‘cannot tell the pilot on an airplane to stop’; however, in this case,

we would encourage you to signal or radio the attendant immediately if you have discomfort in your ears or sinuses. Don’t wait until it really hurts. The operator will stop pressurizing and decrease the pressure until you are comfortable and able to equalize the pressure. When you’re comfortable they will resume pressurizing. Our attendants are well experienced at dealing these cases and are willing to work with you as required. Here are some techniques in helping to equalize your ears:

Try to swallow; yawn or drink sips of water. Turn your head to one side and swallow, then turn to the other side and swallow. Repeat if necessary.
This directs air from your throat into your ears and sinus air spaces.
a third method combines these techniques: try swallowing and wiggling your jaw while blowing gently against your pinched nose. Now that’s coordination.
If you have a history of problems with the ear when flying or traveling in the mountains you may wish to use nasal decongestants before the first few treatments. With young children tilt their head back and you can put one drop of pediatric (baby) nose drops in each nostril one and a half to two hours before HBT. Wait 5-10 min. and then put a second drop in each nostril. You can use Afrin or a similar nasal spray 20-30 minutes after the nose drops. Do not repeat the nasal spray.

What are the risks, contraindications, and areas of concern?

Performed in a clinical setting, m-HBT has repeatedly been shown to be extremely safe. The only noted side effects have been limited to higher-pressure chambers used to treat acute life-threatening conditions in hospitals, and even these side effects are very rare.

NOTE: it should be noted that the only absolute contraindication for undergoing HBT is a collapsed lung (pneumothorax).

Areas of concern would be:

Severe lung or heart disease: This is because we would not want fluid to build up into the lungs.
Uncontrolled Diabetes: This is because we do not want the blood sugars to drop too low if HBT was combines with an overdose of diabetic drug therapy
History of Seizure or Uncontrolled fever: This is because we would be concerned with exacerbating seizure activity, particularly if blood sugars were low.
Changes in Vision: This is rare and a temporary change in vision, that has been associated with higher pressure chambers and not m-HBT. Changes in vision include

getting either a little worse (Myopia) or better (Presbyopia). Note, these cases are rare and associated with higher oxygen dosages. If you notice any changes, please let the attendant know. Don’t worry, as the vision tends to go back to its original state within 3 months from discontinuing the sessions. For that reason, it is not advised to change prescriptions during this time period.

History of Cataracts: Though HBT cannot cause cataracts, this procedure may cause formed cataracts to mature quicker
Pregnancy: As a precautionary measure, HBT is not used during pregnancy unless indicated for acute life-threatening conditions
Current upper respiratory infections, chronic sinusitis or sinus problems: These conditions cause a higher probability of problems during pressurization and are generally recommended to be treated before going into HBT.
Claustrophobia: Some clients may suffer Claustrophobia. This is managed by maintaining communication, use of relaxation techniques and mild sedation, if necessary. If you have a problem with this condition, please let us know.

What is my role and responsibility to ensure safety?

Your role is quite simple, to show up on time and communicate to our staff and attendants each time and let us know if there are any changes in your health. For example, you may have reported on your first visit that you were not pregnant, but when you come in for multiple visits, it is your responsibility to let us know if there are any changes in your health, and of course in this example it would be ‘if you were potentially pregnant’. This is the reason why each of the initial screening questions must be answered each time you go into the hyperbaric chamber. This is for your safety and once again it is your responsibility to let us know each time you go in if there are any changes in your health.

Is it warm inside?

The air warms as we pressurize and cools as we depressurize. Ventilation keeps the air moving when it is warm, and blankets are available if you become cold.

What about smoking and other odors?

Smoke and other odors on your clothes are accentuated within the confines of the pressurized chamber. Try to minimize the detrimental effect of smoking on HBT results by abstaining within 1-hour pre and post treatment. Please do not use strong scented perfumes or deodorants.