Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) belongs to the group of oxidative therapies.
HBOT refers to intermittent treatment with oxygen at greater than normal atmospheric pressures. "Hyper" means increased and "baric" relates to pressure.
At sea level, the pressure of the air we breathe is 780 millimeters of mercury, which is defined as “one atmosphere absolute” (1 ATA). About 20% of this air consists of oxygen and 80% of nitrogen. In a normal healthy individual, about 97% of inhaled oxygen is carried to the cells and tissues by the hemoglobin present in red blood cells.
Any condition that restricts or interferes with normal blood flow will reduce the amount of available oxygen. Oxygen-deprived cells are unable to produce a normal amount of energy and their function is impaired. They cannot accomplish whatever their specialized function might be. Some cells contract (e.g., heart muscle cells), others conduct electrical signals (nerve and brain cells). There are cells that are involved in fighting infections (immune system), others are involved in healing (fibroblasts).
HBOT has traditionally been used for only the most serious health-related conditions. These have included major infections, difficult to heal wounds, severe burns, and other life-threatening conditions.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has shown to --
- Greatly increase oxygen concentration in all body tissues, even with reduced or blocked blood flow;
- Stimulate the growth of new blood vessels to locations with reduced circulation, improving blood flow to areas with arterial blockage;
- Stimulate an adaptive increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), one of the body's principal, internally produced antioxidants and free radical scavengers; and
- Aid the treatment of infection by enhancing white blood cell action and potentiating germ-killing antibiotics.
It is of great value in the treatment of all conditions where blood oxygenation has to be increased to promote healing. This applies also to cancer.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been administered in hospital settings for many years. In these HBOT units pressure can go as high as 4 ATA. Many precautions have to be taken, in order to safely deliver oxygen at such high pressure. For conditions that do not require HBOT at a pressure as high as 4 atmospheres, the mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, mHBOT, at pressures between 1.3 and 1.5 can safely be administered in an office setting. These lower pressures have practically no side effects and significantly enhance blood and tissue oxygenation, which is especially important in cancer treatment.
At the Issels Medical Center we integrate mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy into our treatment program according to individual needs.
DISCLAIMER: The extent of the response to treatment varies from patient to patient, even with similar diagnosis as the internal bodily environment is unique to each individual patient.
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