Your body needs oxygen to heal, especially when injured, but it takes more than going outside to supercharge your immune system. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivers a concentrated dose of pure, pressurized oxygen to your blood to speed up recovery.
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
The simple act of breathing fresh air can improve our health. Sometimes, when our bodies heal from a wound or infection, we need more oxygen than in the air outside.
Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy gives your blood an extra oxygen boost by delivering 100% pure oxygen to your lungs in a specialized pressurized chamber.
The air pressure in an HBO chamber —two to three times higher than average—increases the amount of oxygen in your blood, speeding up our body's ability to heal wounds and repair damaged tissues.
By saturating your blood with oxygen-rich air, your body can fight bacteria, reduce inflammation that can impair healing and produce stem cells that grow new, healthy tissue.
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Conditions
You may have heard of HBO therapy being used to treat scuba divers with decompression sickness or people with carbon monoxide poisoning.
Still, dozens of other conditions can benefit from an extra dose of oxygen. You can count on our highly skilled specialists to diagnose and treat conditions including the following:
Acute peripheral arterial insufficiency
Anemia
Arterial insufficiency (ischemic) ulcers
Bone infection
Bone infections
Brain injuries
Burns
Compromised skin flaps and grafts
Crush injuries
Diabetic foot ulcers
Diabetic wounds
Gangrene
Hearing loss
Necrotizing fasciitis
Osteomyelitis
Osteoradionecrosis
Radiation injuries
Skin infections
Testing
While hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy can help heal tissues that aren’t getting enough oxygen, it isn’t suitable for everyone or every condition.
You can count on our team to help figure out if HBO therapy is the right choice for you. To ensure it’s safe, we might suggest some tests, including:
- Ankle-brachial index
- Audiology exam
- Blood tests
- Chest X-ray
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Eye tests
- Hearing tests
- MRI
- Oxygen measurement
- Physical exam
During your clearance exams for HBO therapy, we’ll go over your medications and work with you and your care team to make any necessary adjustments. This is particularly important for those who have had or are undergoing cancer treatments, as some medications can interact with HBO therapy.
HBO therapy is a simple and painless treatment that lasts one to two hours a day for four to six weeks, depending on your doctor's recommendation.
Treatments
Once you’re inside the hyperbaric chamber and the door is closed, you’ll hear the oxygen starting to circulate as the technician gradually increases the pressure. This process is called compression.
During this time, you might notice a fullness or popping sensation in your ears, like when flying or driving up a mountain. Don’t worry—your technician will show you how to clear your ears to help with that feeling.
The compression usually lasts about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on your specific therapy plan. After that, you should no longer feel the fullness in your ears. You’ll stay in the chamber for about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, and you can relax, sleep, watch TV or listen to music.
Towards the end of your treatment, the technician will slowly decrease the pressure in the chamber, which is called decompression. You might feel that fullness or popping sensation in your ears again, but that’s normal.
To keep your treatment safe and effective, please follow these guidelines:
- Let us know at least 2 hours before treatment if you feel sick, have a cold or are congested.
- Don’t drink alcohol for 12 hours before treatment.
- Don’t smoke during your treatment because it can slow down healing.
- Don’t use illegal drugs while you’re getting treatment.
- Be sure to keep all your HBO therapy appointments.
- Don’t wear jewelry during treatment.
- Don’t polish your nails for 12 hours before treatment.
- Take off hearing aids, dentures, glasses, contacts, wigs and other similar items before treatment.
- Don’t put on deodorant, hair spray, gel, lotions and other similar products before treatment.
- Eat a healthy snack or meal before treatment.
- Use the restroom before treatment starts.
- Don’t bring food, electronics or reading materials into the chamber.
- Change into the 100% cotton clothes we provide before treatment.
Common side effects
Vision changes + eye pain
When having HBO therapy, most people don't experience side effects, but there are some risks, as with any medical procedure. In rare cases, temporary changes in vision may occur due to pressure on the delicate eye tissues or changes in the lens shape. This effect usually lasts for about six to eight weeks. It's recommended not to change your prescription eyewear during treatment and for a few months afterward.
Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is the fear of small or crowded spaces. The HBO chamber is a tube, but it's made of clear acrylic so that you can see your surroundings. Unlike an MRI machine, you won’t feel closed in.
During the treatment, you can move from side to side to stay comfortable. Plus, a technician will be right there with you the whole time and can talk to you through communication devices.
Low blood sugar
Before your treatment, it’s important to eat a meal or snack. This helps your body work better and keeps your blood sugar levels steady. If you have diabetes and take insulin or other medicines, your blood sugar should be over 120 before you start the treatment.
Ear pain + pressure
Barotrauma, or middle ear trauma, is a common side effect of HBO therapy. It happens when the pressure makes your eardrum bend or stretch. In rare cases, it could cause a hole in the eardrum or hearing loss.
We check your ears regularly during treatment. Our HBO therapy team will talk with you about all the possible side effects before you start, so you’ll know what to expect.
FAQs
Is HBO therapy covered by insurance?
Each insurance company decides which conditions and diseases it will cover. We can help you find out if your insurance company covers this treatment for your condition.
Many insurance companies, including Medicare, use literature reviews to make this decision. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) has recognized HBO therapy as safe and effective. UHMS is the primary source of scientific information for hyperbaric medicine worldwide.
How long does HBO therapy take?
HBO therapy is usually given once a day for several weeks, depending on the diagnosis and how severe it is. Each treatment session usually lasts about 2 hours. We will work with you and your care team to find the best schedule for your needs.
Does my doctor need to prescribe or refer me for HBO therapy?
Yes, you need a doctor's order for this treatment. We will work with your doctor on if this therapy is right for you and the best treatment plan.
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