Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is reported to be effective in treating the following thirteen medical conditions. However, some private clinics claim that it can also treat conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, cancer, AIDS, heart disease, Alzheimer and migraines, but there is no scientific evidence to support these claims.
Background
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a proven treatment. In October 2011, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society recognized the effectiveness of this therapy in treating the following thirteen medical conditions:
- Carbon monoxide poisoning (smoke or exhaust inhalation);
- Gas gangrene;
- Crush injury, compartment syndrome, and other severe traumatic conditions where blood flow is reduced or interrupted (e.g., frostbite);
- Decompression sickness (aero emphysema);
- Injuries such as diabetic foot ulcers;
- Significant blood loss (anaemia);
- Intracranial abscess (accumulation of pus in the brain);
- Necrotizing soft tissue infections (flesh-eating disease);
- Osteomyelitis (infection of the bone);
- Delayed radiation syndrome (radiation burns that occur after cancer therapy);
- Skin grafts that heal poorly;
- Thermal burns (from fire or electrical heat sources);
- Sudden sensorineural idiopathic hearing loss (SSNI).
How Hyperbaric Therapy Works
The therapy helps heal these thirteen health conditions by delivering high concentrations of oxygen quickly and deeply to the affected parts of the body.
The patient is placed in a closed chamber with increased atmospheric pressure. When the level prescribed for treatment is reached, the patient is given pure oxygen for a set period of time. The patient breathes the pure oxygen through a face mask and is instructed when to take breaks and breathe the normal air inside the chamber.
Normal air contains 21% oxygen. Some hyperbaric chambers are designed for one person, while others can accommodate two or more people. Sometimes a caregiver enters the room with the patient. The length of each treatment, the number of treatments, and the pressure used vary depending on the patient's condition.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is usually performed in a hospital or private clinic.
Safety of hyperbaric oxygen chambers
The therapy helps heal these thirteen health conditions by delivering a high concentration of oxygen quickly and deeply to the affected parts of the body. The National Health Service (NHS) has reviewed the scientific evidence on the hyperbaric chamber.
These show that the chamber is effective in treating 13 medical conditions recognized by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. The National Health Service (NHS) has issued permits for these 13 conditions to be treated in a hyperbaric chamber, but has not issued any permits for the use of the hyperbaric chamber for other purposes.
Unsubstantiated claims about hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Beware of anyone advertising or offering hyperbaric therapy for conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, cancer, AIDS, heart disease, Alzheimer and migraines. There is currently no evidence that this treatment is useful in this situation.
In private practice, the treatment is very expensive. A patient receiving hyperbaric therapy for an unlisted condition is spending a lot of money for little or no benefit. Worse still, he may delay or forgo a proven treatment.
What are the Risks of this therapy?
Hyperbaric therapy is usually safe to treat the 13 listed conditions, provided that the chamber is set up in accordance with regulations; the operator and attendants are properly trained; and a certified hyperbaric physician is on site or can be reached quickly and easily.
There are risks, however. Before consenting to treatment, you should consider the following factors:
- The pressure inside the chamber can damage the middle and inner ear, sinuses, lungs, and teeth of both adults and children.
- Some people will experience claustrophobic anxiety while inside the chamber.
- The therapy may affect the eyes (e.g., cause myopia or cataracts).
- Because hyperbaric oxygen therapy affects blood sugar levels, diabetics should have their blood sugar levels checked before and after treatment. A high concentration of oxygen
- Although rare, too much oxygen can sometimes cause seizures or lung problems that can be prevented by giving the patient breaks to breathe regular air instead of pure oxygen.
- High concentrations of oxygen under high pressure can be a fire hazard.
- There is a risk of explosion if the chamber is not set up properly or if staff are not properly trained.
- It may also be difficult or impossible for the operator to respond to a medical emergency while the patient is in the chamber.
Reducing the risks
If your doctor recommends this treatment, National Health Service (NHS) recommends that you:
- Make sure your health problem is on the list of 13 conditions for which hyperbaric oxygen therapy is known to be effective.
- Answer the hyperbaric medicine specialist's questions honestly. The doctor needs to know everything to determine if the treatment is right for you.
- To ensure that the hyperbaric chamber has been approved by the National Health Service (NHS). You can do this online, in the online database of medical devices approved by our government.
If you are dealing with a private clinic:
- To verify that the installation and use of the hyperbaric chamber comply with safety standards.
- To ensure that the operator has received adequate training and will be able to intervene in the event of a medical emergency during treatment.
- Find out about emergency procedures.
- To ensure that a hyperbaric medicine specialist is on site or can be reached easily and quickly, if necessary.
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