An experimental procedure known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) was first discovered in World War I. Although its primary use is to cure respiratory illness, it can also improve recovery in those with other medical conditions. The Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Chamber (HBOT) was designed by a doctor in Leipsic, Holland, who used an air chamber with 100 percent oxygen. The idea was that extreme pressure would help heal certain respiratory ailments.
The primary illness that doctors are using the hyperbaric chamber for is decompression sickness. This is a common illness that is manifested when a person has to go from a normal room temperature to minus zero degrees or very cold temperatures. When this happens, the body usually goes into shock. It has been shown that the human immune system can heal itself by returning to a normal body temperature.
The doctors who are using the hyperbaric chamber to treat patients breathe in pure oxygen. They do not breathe in the air or nitrogen or any form of compressed gas. The patients breathe in three times more air than what is breathed out normally. This is because when a patient is in a decompression chamber, he or she is breathed in three times more oxygen than they would be if they were in a normal room. The hyperbaric chambers also contain a medication that deactivates certain proteins in the body, which slows the rate of protein decay in the body.
The hyperbaric oxygen therapies are being used today to help patients with several different medical conditions. Some of these medical conditions include: strokes, respiratory distress, Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, asthma, and allergies. These hyperbaric chambers are also being used to help patients recover from traumatic brain injuries, burns, spinal cord injuries, head trauma, and heart attacks. The hyperbaric chambers are also being used to help cancer patients. In fact, some cancer patients have been able to recover complete bone mass after spending time in the hyperbaric chamber. While the medical field is still researching hyperbaric chambers and its various uses, it is clear that they are a powerful force for positive change.
People who use the hyperbaric chamber for treatment often report an increase in energy, a decrease in mental stress and fatigue, as well as an increase in concentration and clarity. Patients who suffer from asthma and other lung diseases are also experiencing noticeable improvements in their condition and may be able to stop using the hyperbaric chamber therapy once their condition has stabilized. Many people who have been chronic smokers have also reported changes in their lives following their treatment, including a decreased urge to smoke and a decreased need to smoke in order to survive.
Because of the potential benefits of hyperbaric therapy for a wide range of medical conditions, many researchers are interested in learning more about the chamber's effects on the body and the healing process. One of the most exciting areas of research is the use of hyperbaric chambers for wound healing. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people who are deciding to undergo this type of therapy as a part of their healing process. This is particularly true of the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, Lupus, skin diseases such as acne, and wounds caused by accidents. The results of recent studies are impressive.
A study conducted at the University of Glasgow found that after six weeks of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, fibroblast cells - which are the cells of the body that produce collagen - grew faster and produced higher quantities of collagen. Another study at the University of Texas found that patients with chronic pain showed a significant improvement when treated with hyperbaric chambers. And a recently-published study at the University of Nebraska Medical Center found that hyperbaric chamber treatments for head injuries improved the appearance of the brain tissue.
In a related study at Case Western Reserve University, researchers found that hyperbaric chambers reduced swelling and redness in a patient's face following head trauma. The results were even more impressive when the study group was made up of individuals who were experiencing cognitive difficulties due to their injuries. The increased blood flow and natural light stimulated the stem cells to regenerate and the tissues became much healthier than they had been prior to the injury. While this is a very impressive list of potential benefits to the human body, there is still more work to be done. If further research can be directed towards using hyperbaric chambers for various conditions, this may very well be just the breakthrough we've been waiting for.
Copyright © HyperbaricPros.com
