Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment. The air pressure in the chamber is increased 2 to 3 times higher than normal air pressure, allowing the lungs to gather much more oxygen than would be possible breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure. This extra oxygen helps fight bacteria and encourages normal tissue oxygen levels, even after the therapy is completed. HBOT is a well-established treatment for decompression sickness, a potential risk of scuba diving, and is also used to treat several medical conditions, including serious infections, bubbles of air in blood vessels, and wounds that may not heal because of diabetes or radiation injury.
Positive aspects of HBOT include its effectiveness in treating certain medical conditions, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, gangrene, stubborn wounds, and infections. It can also encourage the formation of new collagen and new skin cells, stimulate cells to produce certain substances, and attract and stimulate endothelial cells needed for healing.
Negative aspects of HBOT include the risk of oxygen toxicity, which can cause seizures, lung damage, and other complications. Additionally, items such as lighters or battery-powered devices that generate heat are not allowed into the hyperbaric chamber, and hair and skin care products that are petroleum-based are a potential fire hazard.
Ingredients or materials are not applicable to HBOT as it is a medical treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment.
