Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy & Hyperbaric Chamber

In a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, the air pressure is increased two to three times higher than normal air pressure. Under these conditions, your lungs can gather more oxygen than would be possible breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure. Your blood carries this oxygen throughout your body, helping to fight bacteria and stimulate the release of substances called growth factors and stem cells, which promote healing.

Your treatment plan will depend on the condition being treated. During your consultation process with us, we’ll formulate the most effective plan for you. HBOT can be a primary treatment or it can be part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes antibiotics, surgery, and various wound care approaches. Sessions typically last for around 60 to 90 minutes, and the number of sessions can vary greatly depending on the medical indication and your individual response to therapy.

Principles of Hyperbaric Medicine

Hyperbaric medicine is based on the administration of 100% oxygen at pressures greater than atmospheric pressure. This increases the oxygen saturation of blood and, in turn, the amount of oxygen delivered to tissues. In the chamber, the air pressure is raised up to three times higher than normal. As a result, your lungs gather more oxygen than would be possible breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure.

The Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Process

The process of undergoing HBOT involves several key steps:

1. Consultation: One of our medical professionals assesses your condition to determine if HBOT is the best course of action for you.
2. Preparation: When coming into the clinic, you’ll need to remove any jewellery or items that could pose a safety hazard and wear comfortable, unrestrictive clothing.
3. Treatment: You enter the hyperbaric chamber and remain there for the prescribed duration, typically 60 to 90 minutes.
4. Monitoring: Your progress is closely monitored by our healthcare professionals throughout each session.

During this, you may feel a sensation similar to that of taking off or landing in an aeroplane due to the changes in air pressure. Our team will guide you to ensure any anxiety or nervousness is minimal for you. 

As mentioned, this medical treatment enhances your body’s natural healing process. By breathing pure oxygen in a pressurised chamber, you increase the oxygen concentration in your blood, which aids our bodies in healing damaged tissue.

Wound Healing: HBOT can significantly improve the healing of wounds, especially those that are slow to heal due to diabetes or complex injury. By encouraging the formation of new blood vessels, your treatment fast-tracks recovery.

Infection Control: Your body’s ability to fight infections is significantly increased with HBOT, as high levels of oxygen can enhance the efficiency of white blood cells. This can be especially useful for bacterial infections that are anaerobic (thrive in environments with low oxygen).

• Decompression Sickness: A risk for divers, decompression sickness can be effectively treated with your HBOT, as it helps reduce the bubbles that form during a rapid ascent from an incredibly high pressure environment.
• Neurological Conditions: Evidence suggests that HBOT benefits certain neurological conditions, such as ADHD, by stimulating the growth of new neurons and aiding in neurological recovery.
• Reduced Complications from Radiation: Your therapy can minimise the side effects of radiation therapy, such as radiation burns or radiation cystitis, by promoting healing and reducing inflammation.

The therapy is administered in sessions that last between 60 and 90 minutes, which varies from patient to patient.