5 Facts You Didn’t Know About Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) might sound high tech and daunting, but it’s a simple, noninvasive treatment that has been transforming lives for decades. HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in high air pressure settings that increase lung volume, improving air intake and getting more oxygen to tissues and cells. Despite this therapy’s significance, many people are not fully aware of its benefits and how it works. Explore five facts about hyperbaric oxygen therapy you didn’t know and discover its many benefits.
HBOT Is Over Three Centuries Old
Although many people perceive HBOT as a recent medical marvel, it was first used therapeutically in the 1660s. British physician Nathaniel Henshaw created the first hyperbaric chamber in 1662. At the time, HBOT procedures focused on treating pulmonary and digestive conditions. Modern advances in technology have, of course, significantly improved the safety and efficiency of the treatment since Henshaw’s designs.
HBOT Heals at a Cellular Level
HBOT works by increasing the oxygen concentration in your body, allowing up to 25 times more oxygen to dissolve in your bloodstream. This surplus of oxygen reaches all parts of the body, even the areas that are normally hard to reach. Your body needs and uses oxygen in several vital functions, from aerobic respiration and energy production to immune system support. Certain cells in your immune system require oxygen to function and enhance their responses, accelerating the healing process at a cellular level.
HBOT Isn’t Just for Decompression Sickness
Initially, many people used HBOT primarily for treating decompression sickness, especially among divers. However, it’s now a common and approved therapy in medspas for treating a wide array of conditions, including the following:
Sports injuries (accelerated recovery)
Traumatic Brain Injury
Cognitive Function
Burns
Photoaging
Wound Healing
Infections
HBOT Is Painless
Contrary to popular belief, HBOT is a painless treatment; it’s noninvasive and doesn’t create incisions on the skin. Patients typically feel only a slight pressure in their ears, similar to the sensation experienced while ascending or descending in an airplane due to the change in pressure. Users can easily alleviate the slight pressure buildup by yawning or swallowing.
HBOT Can Enhance Neurological Functioning
Recent studies suggest that HBOT can stimulate the growth of new brain cells and improve neurological functioning. It’s emerging as a potential treatment for conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injuries, and even certain types of dementia. HBOT also aids one’s mental health. Elevated oxygen levels can stimulate the production of serotonin, the body’s feel-good chemical, which helps regulate mood, sleep, and anxiety.
The history of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, from its origins in the 1660s to its modern-day applications, contains intriguing revelations that illuminate facts you didn’t know. Each new discovery about HBOT serves to underscore its invaluable role in healthcare. Rejuv’s hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions use the latest HBOT technology, offering many uses, from sports injury and recovery, concussion recovery, cognitive function, detoxification and more. If you want to reap the many benefits of HBOT in Encinitas and Carlsbad, CA, Rejuv is the place to go. Book your session today!