Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a treatment where you are in a spacious, comfortable, and sealed oxygen chamber with windows. The atmospheric pressure is gradually increased during your treatment.  This pressurized oxygen environment triggers the healing effects of HBOT.  Our steel chamber is an Oxyhealth Fortius 420 which can deliver 100% oxygen at up to 2.2 ATA.   HBOT is an integrative treatment which can be used in conjunction with other forms of therapeutic, medical, and/or surgical care. Dr. Born has been providing this service since 2009.

Hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying cell in the blood, is almost completely saturated in normal day-to-day life.  Instead of binding more oxygen to the hemoglobin, HBOT increases the free oxygen plasma, enabling better perfusion of tissues.  The plasma can get to areas of the blood that are too small for red blood cells to get through.  The increased pressure generates a cascade of events that helps reduce inflammation, promote healing, reduce swelling, increase stem cells and improve the blood supply angiogenesis.

What conditions can be treated with HBOT?

HBOT is an internationally recognized treatment.

Some conditions may be covered by insurance companies.  However, many conditions are not covered by insurance.

There are many conditions that can benefit from HBOT, some of which are listed below:

Autism
Carbon monoxide poisoning & Smoke inhaltion
COVID-19 late effects
Crush injuries
Diabetic foot ulcers
Long COVID
Macular degeneration
Necrotizing infections
Osteomyelitis
Radiation effects
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Sports injuries
Stroke
Traumatic brain injury

What are the risks and side effects of HBOT?

There are minimal side effects with HBOT.  It has been proven to be extremely safe.

The most common problem is pressure to the ears and sinuses due to the pressure change.  We try to avoid this problem with the slow increase of pressure during the treatment.

The temperature inside the chamber will increase slightly during the pressurization, normalize during the treatment, and fall at a return to atmospheric pressure.  A cooling unit is used to keep the temperature at a comfortable temperature.

Vision changes may change slightly during the treatment but are temporary.

Confinement anxiety (claustrophobia) is managed by maintaining communication with staff during the treatment, use of relaxation techniques, and oral medication prior to treatment.

How often are treatments given and how many do I need?

HBOT are typically once a day for a total of 20- 40 sessions. Treatments last 90 minutes.