How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Works
Used mostly to help heal wounds and treat a selective number of illnesses
, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a highly effective treatment when used in conjunction with antibiotics and other program elements. And, since it's a natural treatment, there are virtually no negative effects on the body. In fact, a wound care specialist will likely tell you it's helpful for improving total body health when going through the initial patient wound care education.
What Happens During Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Normally, pure oxygen is given to a patient through a facemask. But, because the human body only uses up to 21% oxygen when breathing, the benefits the patient experiences are minimal. By having the patient enter a pressurized chamber, however, the human body can absorb up to three times more oxygen during one treatment through its vascular system, making this method up to three times more effective.
The nice part about this type of treatment is that the effects don't come from direct contact with the opened wound, which means direct contact with oxygen has no effect on the healing rate. All of the bandages can stay in place, and the wound is not disturbed. The pressurized oxygen is also believed to force toxic substances from the body while strengthening and energizing the patient as a whole.
How This Treatment Benefits Patients
As mentioned, there are a number of illnesses and conditions treatable through hyperbaric oxygen therapy, when performed by a qualified wound care specialist. These effects could include the reduction of gas bubble blockages in tissue, the elimination of toxic substances while reducing its effects, killing bacteria and controlling infection, improved blood vessel production, reduction in the effects of toxins and foreign substances, and improved blood flow to damaged areas.
As for how many treatments it takes to experience these effects, it will depend on the patient and the exact reasons for the treatment. For some patients, only a single treatment is needed. For others, however, it could take as many as 50 treatments to achieve the desired results. But generally, this is estimated during the patient's wound care education and explained then.
Treatment Restrictions
While the treatment has virtually no side effects, the treatment does have a few restrictions that the technician will go over during the patient's wound care education appointment. Medications and their effects can change drastically during treatment because of the increased blood flow. Therefore, it's important to let the wound care specialist know about any medications before treatments begin.
Smoking, caffeine, and illness can all affect the results of the treatment because of a lack of blood and oxygen flow within the body. Lastly, anything that could pose a safety hazard when exposed to static electricity also needs to be kept out of the chamber.
A wound care specialist has a number of treatments at his disposal to help patients heal and return to good health. But with its effectiveness, the low risks involved, and quality wound care education before hand, hyperbaric oxygen treatments can be one of the best components of a treatment plan.
by: Chris Harmen
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