Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) - Specialists and Information

During HBOT, you breathe pure oxygen under elevated pressure. During the treatment, you are inside a specially equipped chamber called a hyperbaric chamber. 

Under high pressure, oxygen dissolves more easily into the blood. This increases oxygen saturation in tissues that are undersupplied due to injuries or illnesses. 

The improved oxygenation:

• Supports the regeneration of damaged cells
• Alleviates inflammatory processes
• Stimulates collagen production and promotes bone growth

HBOT has both direct and indirect effects on the body: It reduces swelling by decreasing blood flow while maintaining a constant oxygen supply.

HBOT also promotes the formation of new blood vessels and eliminates toxins such as carbon monoxide.

Thus, hyperbaric oxygen therapy addresses the root causes of diseases or injuries and activates the body’s self-healing abilities.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy accelerates wound healing and reduces swelling and inflammation @ rh2010 /AdobeStock

HBOT has two purposes:

1. The treatment of conditions for which hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been proven to have a high probability of a healing or healing-promoting effect.
2. The treatment of symptoms and conditions for which a healing-promoting effect is expected.

Your doctor will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to ensure the best possible outcome. A session lasts about two hours.

The prognosis depends on the underlying condition. It is particularly favorable in cases of carbon monoxide poisoning and decompression sickness.

HBOT has proven to be an effective method for treating various conditions. 

These include:

• Arterial gas embolism
• Decompression sickness (diver’s disease)
• Stroke
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Tinnitus
• Anemia
• Osteomyelitis
• Chronic wounds, ulcers

In addition, hyperbaric oxygen therapy accelerates the regeneration of transplanted tissue.

HBOT accelerates the healing process for various conditions and is also used in anti-aging therapy. It is effective in enhancing physical and cognitive performance, slowing the aging process, and improving quality of life. 

It improves the appearance of scars and other skin changes. This is achieved by optimizing the oxygen supply to the cells, thereby promoting regeneration.

Before treatment begins, the doctor assesses your suitability for hyperbaric therapy by evaluating your lung function, among other things. The doctor performs an ECG and ensures that your Eustachian tube is clear. This reduces the risk of complications.

A member of the treatment team will then accompany you into the hyperbaric chamber. From there, you can contact the doctor or nursing staff at any time. 

The therapist slowly increases the pressure to allow for comfortable ear equalization. You can assist with this process by chewing gum during the pressure-build-up phase. 

Alternatively, pinch your nose shut and push air into the back of your throat.

Once the desired overpressure has been reached, put on the oxygen mask and breathe in 100% pure oxygen. At the end of the treatment, the practitioner will slowly lower the pressure so that you can adjust to the ambient pressure.

Remove the breathing mask and inform your practitioner if any of the following symptoms occur during the procedure:

• Involuntary twitching in the facial area
• Tingling in the earlobes, the tip of the nose, or the fingertips
• Sudden onset of double vision
• General malaise or severe restlessness
• Abnormal sensations or a burning sensation under the breastbone or in the upper respiratory tract

After your sessions, follow your doctor’s instructions to minimize complications and ensure optimal treatment success. Patients generally tolerate HBO therapy well. Mild side effects may occasionally occur, but they usually subside quickly.

Sometimes patients experience a sensation of pressure in their ears after oxygen therapy. If you find this sensation uncomfortable, try swallowing, yawning, and moving your jaw. 

Your doctor may recommend decongestant nasal sprays and/or ear drops if the measures described above do not alleviate the side effects.

Do not pinch your nose shut to try to build up pressure yourself!

Occasionally, patients feel tired after hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Allow yourself plenty of rest and sleep after HBO therapy to recover.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any unusual symptoms after treatment!

Like any treatment, hyperbaric medicine carries risks, which your doctor will explain to you at the start of therapy. 

These include:

• Injuries in gas-filled body cavities, such as the ear. These are caused by sudden changes in pressure. Doctors also refer to this complication as barotrauma.
• Eardrum perforation or rupture, in which the eardrum tears or ruptures.
• In addition, temporary irritation of the respiratory tract and visual disturbances may occasionally occur. These side effects usually subside within a few hours.
• Very rarely, seizures can occur when people inhale oxygen under positive pressure.

Statutory health insurance plans cover the costs only in exceptional cases—for example, when other treatment methods have been unsuccessful. 

To do so, you must submit a request for coverage before HBO therapy begins. The only costs incurred are those associated with outpatient sessions.

Private health insurance plans generally cover the costs of both outpatient and inpatient hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

If you intend to pay for HBO therapy yourself, the treatment team will create a personalized treatment and cost plan for you.

HBOT is an effective tool for treating various diseases. Improved oxygenation activates the body’s self-healing abilities and removes harmful substances such as carbon monoxide from the body. As a non-invasive treatment method, HBOT typically causes only minor side effects.