Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

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» About hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Now Open!

Click on titles to navigate:

» About hyperbaric oxygen therapy

About Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a non-invasive treatment modality in which a person breathes 100% oxygen while in a pressurized environment. This environment greatly increases the body’s exposure to oxygen causing a cascade of beneficial and clinically significant effects such as:

» Increased stem cell production

» Powerful anti-inflammatory

» Powerful antibacterial

» Angiogenesis

» Increased white blood cell production

The administration of pure oxygen at increased pressure causes up to 20 times more oxygen to be absorbed by the blood, plasma, spinal fluid, and other body fluids and is transferred to injured organs and tissues. This accelerates healing and recovery time in addition to providing other benefits such as healthy aging and general wellness maintenance.

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Frequently asked questions

Treatments are typically one hour long. They are safe, painless and comfortable with rare side-effects. The number of treatments prescribed varies based on established protocols and individual assessments.

Your body’s tissues need an adequate supply of oxygen to function. When tissue is injured, it requires even more oxygen to survive. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the amount of oxygen your blood and plasma can carry. This increase in oxygen promotes accelerated healing, tissue function, and fights infection.

“Hyper” means increased, and “baric” refers to pressure. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases circulation and oxygenation, allowing the oxygen to build and repair damaged blood vessels, as well as triggering collagen growth, which leads to healing.

The increase in pressure also reduces inflammation and swelling, which in turn, increases blood flow. Oxygen also helps the body create new white blood cells, which helps the body fight off infection.

Over time, the increase of oxygen stimulates angiogenesis, which is new blood vessel formation in the tissues.

For patients who follow the recommended treatments, nutrition and wound care, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can speed up the healing process by three to five times.

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Charlottesville Hyperbarics | Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy | What to Expect during HBOT Treatment

Treatable Conditions

Anemia
Autism
Antiviral/Antibacterial
Brain abscess
Arterial gas embolism
Burn
Decompression sickness
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Crushing injury
Deafness, sudden
Gangrene
Infection of skin or bone that causes tissue death
Non-healing wounds, such as a diabetic foot ulcer
Radiation injury
Skin graft or skin flap at risk of tissue death
Lyme disease
AIDS/HIV
Allergies
Alzheimer’s disease
Arthritis
Asthma

Post-traumatic stress (PTSD)
Bell’s palsy
Brain injury
Cancer
Cerebral palsy
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Cirrhosis
Depression
Enhanced Immune Function
Fibromyalgia
Gastrointestinal ulcers
Heart disease
Heatstroke
Hepatitis
Migraine
Multiple sclerosis
Parkinson’s disease
Spinal cord injury
Sports injury & sports performance
Stroke
long-COVID

What to expect before, during, and after hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment?

Before hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Prior to undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy, you will need a prescription from your doctor or you can have a consultation with our in-house Medical Director, Dr. Rob Abbott, in order to determine whether you are a candidate for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and the protocol that suits your specific needs. Dr. Abbott may recommend other therapies in conjunction with hyperbaric oxygen therapy to ensure the best possible outcome for you.

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Charlottesville Hyperbarics | Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy | Before HBOT

During hyperbaric oxygen therapy

You will comfortably lie inside a hyperbaric chamber for 60-90 minutes per day during treatment. Many patients start out with about 20 treatments, however some protocols consist of 5 or fewer sessions. Treatments may be extended further, depending on the progress of healing.

The chamber is pressurized with 100 percent oxygen to the equivalent of diving 33 to 45 feet below sea level (2-3 times normal air pressure). The increased air pressure creates a temporary feeling of fullness in your ears — similar to what you might feel in an airplane or at a high altitude. You can relieve that feeling by yawning or swallowing. Your treatment is performed under medical supervision and you have the ability to communicate with someone at all times should you need anything.

This increase in pressure allows more oxygen to be dissolved into your plasma (up to 10 to 20 times more than normal). The air you normally breathe is about 21 percent oxygen. In a hyperbaric chamber, you are breathing roughly 200 percent to 240 percent oxygen.