An Introduction To Hyperbaric Air Therapy also known as HBOT
Let us very first begin by being aware of what precisely hyperbaric oxygen treatment is. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves inhaling one hundred% oxygen at greater than one particular atmosphere absolute (ATA) in a pressurized chamber. The air we breathe at sea level is defined as 1 ATA.
Quite a few of the clinical utilizes of hyperbaric remedies performed in fixed or transportable hyperbaric chambers have been at pressures above 1.5 ATA. Nevertheless, not too long ago, some researchers have been making use of decrease pressures of hyperbaric oxygen therapy with superior results in some conditions. The abbreviation conventionally used for hyperbaric oxygen therapy is HBOT.
What actually takes place in a transportable hyperbaric chamber-?
HBOT increases the amount of oxygen that is carried in the plasma. Commonly, hemoglobin which circulates in the blood stream carries virtually all of the oxygen in our physique to tissues.
Only .3% of oxygen is dissolved in the plasma which is the fluid in our blood vessels not counting the red cells, white cells and platelets. Hemoglobin is typically 97% saturated or complete of
oxygen.
Nevertheless, with HBOT, the quantity of oxygen that is dissolved into the plasma can increase several fold. In truth, some animal studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen treatment can hold an animal alive without the need of circulating red blood cells. There is an old paper referred to as “Life without having blood” that studied this in a pig. For that reason, in circumstances where hypoxia (or decreased quantity of oxygen) is present, such as with decreased blood flow, we would count on HBOT to enable overcome this challenge.
Interestingly, Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels which actually causes decreased blood flow. Having said that, because it increases the quantity of oxygen in plasma so a lot, the overall result is elevated oxygen delivery to tissue. Mainly because it causes decreased blood flow, hyperbaric oxygen treatment decreases swelling, which includes swelling in the brain, just after injury or ischemia.
1 of the properties of HBOT that is rarely discussed is the anti-inflammatory impact of HBOT. A number of animal research have revealed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy has potent anti-inflammatory tissue effects with equivalence to diclofenac 20 mg/kg noted in one particular study employing HBOT at two.4 ATA and 100% oxygen.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy commonly performed in a portable hyperbaric chamber has also been shown to decrease markers of inflammation such as IL-1, IL-six and TNF-á in humans. So we get decreased blood flow, improved oxygenation, decreased swelling and decreased inflammation, all from one particular therapy.
How secure is HBOT?
There have been numerous research in adults and youngsters which have established the safety of HBOT. The most popular side effect of HBOT is middle ear barotrauma where the ear drum gets irritated, bleeds or even ruptures. This occurs in roughly two% of patients. The incidence of this is decreased with pseudoephedrine treatment just before HBOT.
Significantly less prevalent side effects in descending order include things like sinus squeeze which is a sharp discomfort in the sinus, serous otitis which is fluid construct-up behind the eardrum, claustrophobia, and reversible myopia which is nearsightedness. Seizures may occur infrequently in about 1-three out of 10,000 patients. Greater pressures specifically over 2-three ATA have a larger incidence of side effects. We will need to try to remember that oxygen is a drug. And just like any drug, it has beneficial effects at a certain dose, but as well higher of a dose can increase side effects.