What is the hyperbaric chamber for?

The hyperbaric oxygen therapy consists of breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber and it is a non-invasive and painless method. In the hyperbaric chamber, air pressure rises up to three times higher than normal air pressure, and under these conditions the lungs can breathe more oxygen than would be possible by breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure.

The hyperbaric chamber it is a hermetic cabin It is designed to withstand high pressure inside. On some occasions it will be the only therapeutic indication for curing a condition and, on others, it will be applied as part of a comprehensive treatment, along with other therapies or medications. It is a procedure that is typically performed on an outpatient basis, that is, does not need hospitalization of the patient.

What is it for?

Sometimes when a body tissue is injured, it may require more oxygen supply to heal.

When is the hyperbaric chamber indicated?

It is a well-established treatment for the following situations:

• Decompression sickness, a risk in the practice of diving suffered by divers when ascending to the surface.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning, as can happen in fires, for example.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning in cyanide poisoning.
• The existence of air bubbles in blood vessels (the so-called arterial air embolism).
• Anemias serious (which cannot be resolved by blood transfusions).
• Certain kinds of Hearing loss, like sudden deafness.
• Infections, of the type abscesses or gangrene or crush skin lesions.
• Cure of wounds that do not heal as a result of diabetes (such as diabetic foot), radiation injuries, or burns. The oxygen that the blood carries throughout the body helps fight bacteria and stimulate the release of substances in the body tissues called "growth factors", which promote healing.

When is it not advised?

However, there is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an effective treatment in many other pathologies, such as:

• arthritis.
• Injuries caused in sports.
• .
• migraines
• Dementias, such as Alzheimer's disease, or also Parkinson's disease.
• Depression.
• asthma…

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy not effective in curing or treating serious illnesses such as cancer, autism or diabetes, etc. However, if you do a related search on the internet, you may find all kinds of claims about it. Don't be fooled!

Types of hyperbaric chambers

• Single-seater camera: in a single unit. You lie on a table that slides into a clear plastic tube.
• Multiplace camera: in the common room. You can sit or lie in a room that looks like a large hospital room, sharing it with other people. You may receive oxygen through a mask placed on your face or a transparent lightweight hood that is placed over your head.

Generally, multiplaces are the most appropriate because they allow doctors and other health personnel to accompany patients and thus be able to provide the necessary care (even intensive care). In Spain, the system of Social Security has Hyperbaric Medicine Services andn Own hospitals or hospitals in some Autonomous Communities (Valencian Community, Catalonia, Andalusia, Galicia, Balearic Islands ...).

Risks of the hyperbaric chamber

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is generally a safe procedure. Complications are rare, but can sometimes cause:

• Temporary myopia (blurred vision), caused by transient changes in the lens of the eye.
• Greater pressure in the head, with pain at the level of the paranasal sinuses.
• Injuries to the middle ear, with even rupture of the eardrum, due to increased air pressure.
• Lung collapse also caused by these changes in air pressure (barotrauma).
• Joint pain
• Seizures, produced by the toxicity of oxygen at high concentrations in the central nervous system.
• Increased risk of fire (pure oxygen can cause fire if spark or flame ignites fuel source).

Advice

• Due to the aforementioned risk of fire, you will not be able to have devices that run on batteries or lighters while you are inside the hyperbaric chamber.
• To limit the sources of excess fuel, they will surely advise you not to use petroleum-based skin and hair care products that day, in order to reduce the aforementioned risk of fire.
• The increased pressure in the air creates a temporary sensation of having our ears plugged, similar to what it feels like when we are traveling in an airplane or are in high altitudes (mountains). This unpleasant sensation can be alleviated simply by yawning or swallowing.
• As for the indications for this therapy, always follow only the instructions of your doctors, who at all times will propose what is most appropriate for you. Ignore what can be read on the Internet, because it can put your health or that of your loved ones at risk.
• For most conditions, the session lasts about two hours. The members of the medical team will supervise you until the end of it.
• To benefit from the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, you will likely need more than one session. The number of sessions depends on your disease to be treated and is highly variable. (For example, as a guide, carbon monoxide poisoning may require about three sessions, while a non-healing wound may require more than 20 sessions).
• You may feel a little tired or hungry after treatment. This does not limit normal activities.

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