Did you know that oxygen can cure many diseases?
What is hyperbaric medicine?
Hyperbaric medicine, also called hyperbaric oxygen therapy, is a non-invasive medical treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, called a hyperbaric chamber. Inside the chamber, the air pressure is raised to two to three times normal atmospheric pressure, causing oxygen to dissolve further into the blood and reach the tissues that need it.
What is hyperbaric medicine for?
Hyperbaric medicine is primarily used to treat emergency situations, such as decompression sickness, air embolism, carbon monoxide poisoning, or gas gangrene. These are serious conditions that can cause irreversible organ damage or even death if not treated in time. Hyperbaric medicine helps eliminate gas bubbles that form in tissues, reduce inflammation, fight infections, and improve blood circulation.
In addition, hyperbaric medicine has other indications to treat chronic pathologies or injuries that affect people's quality of life. Some of them are:
Diabetic foot: is a complication of diabetes that causes ulcers and infections in the feet that may require amputation. Hyperbaric medicine promotes wound healing, prevents infections and prevents the loss of limbs.
Osteomyelitis: is a bone infection that can be caused by bacteria, fungi or trauma. Hyperbaric medicine helps eliminate microorganisms, stimulate bone growth, and prevent fractures.
Radiation injuries: These are injuries caused by exposure to radiation therapy, which is used to treat some types of cancer. Hyperbaric medicine reduces inflammation and pain, improves oxygenation and regeneration of damaged tissues, and prevents complications such as necrosis, hemorrhage, or perforation.
Grafts and flaps: These are surgical techniques used to repair defects or tissue loss in the skin, muscle or bone. Hyperbaric medicine improves the viability and integration of grafts and flaps by increasing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients and decreasing the risk of infection and rejection.
These are just some of the applications of hyperbaric medicine, but there are many more that are being investigated or are already used in some specialized centers. For example, hyperbaric medicine can help treat multiple sclerosis, hearing loss, inflammatory bowel disease, burns, or migraines, among others.
What is treatment with hyperbaric medicine like?
Treatment with hyperbaric medicine is an outpatient procedure, that is, it does not require hospitalization or anesthesia. Generally, the treatment lasts between one and two hours, and is carried out in sessions that may vary depending on the pathology and the patient's response. The number of sessions can range from a few to several dozen, and they are usually spaced between one and several days.
During treatment, the patient enters the hyperbaric chamber, which can be individual or collective, and breathes pure oxygen through a mask or hood. Inside the chamber, the patient can be sitting or lying down, and can read, listen to music, or watch a movie. The patient is supervised at all times by a doctor or nurse, who controls the pressure, time and condition of the patient.
Hyperbaric medicine is a safe and well-tolerated treatment, which has few side effects and contraindications. The most common side effects are a sensation of pressure in the ears and temporary changes in vision, which resolve upon completion of treatment. The most important contraindications are lung collapse, pregnancy and some heart or respiratory diseases. In any case, the doctor will evaluate each case and decide whether or not the patient can receive the treatment.
Where can you receive hyperbaric medicine treatment?
Treatment with hyperbaric medicine can be received in specialized medical centers that have hyperbaric chambers and qualified personnel to perform it. In Spain, there is a Coordinating Committee of Hyperbaric Medicine Centers, which groups together centers that meet quality and safety standards. On its website you can consult the list of associated centers and their contact information.
What advantages does hyperbaric medicine have?
Hyperbaric medicine has many advantages for the health and quality of life of people who receive it. Some of them are:
- It is a natural treatment that uses oxygen as medicine, without the need for drugs or surgery. It is a complementary treatment that can be combined with other medical or surgical treatments, enhancing their effects and reducing complications.
- It is a preventive treatment that can prevent the worsening or becoming chronic of some pathologies, as well as the appearance of sequelae or disabilities.
- It is an effective treatment, which has proven its usefulness in numerous scientific studies and clinical cases, improving patient results and satisfaction.
Do you dare to try hyperbaric medicine?
If you suffer from any of the pathologies that can benefit from hyperbaric medicine, or if you simply want to improve your health and well-being, do not hesitate to consult with your doctor about the possibility of receiving this treatment. Hyperbaric medicine is an innovative, safe and effective therapy that can change your life. Don't wait any longer and discover the power of oxygen!
