Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, also called HBOT, may sound complicated, but it’s actually a pretty simple idea. It’s a special kind of medical treatment where you breathe in pure oxygen inside a pressurized room or tube. This helps your body heal faster and fight off certain health problems. It’s been used for years to help scuba divers with decompression sickness (also known as “the bends”), but now it helps treat many other conditions too.
Let’s break down how it works and why it helps people feel better.
What Happens During Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Normally, the air we breathe is about 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen. In HBOT, you breathe 100% oxygen while sitting or lying in a special chamber where the air pressure is 2 to 3 times higher than normal.
Why does this matter? Under higher pressure, your lungs can take in a lot more oxygen than they can under regular air conditions. This extra oxygen gets pushed into your blood and travels all over your body—even into areas that don’t usually get much oxygen. That extra oxygen helps your body heal itself faster.
How Does the Extra Oxygen Help?
Oxygen is super important for your body. Your cells need it to make energy, fight infections, and repair damage. With more oxygen, your body can do all of these things better. Here are a few ways HBOT helps:
- More Oxygen Gets to Your Cells
The extra pressure helps more oxygen dissolve into your blood. This means your organs and tissues get more oxygen—even parts of the body that have poor blood flow. - Reduces Swelling and Inflammation
When you’re injured or sick, your body often swells up. HBOT can reduce that swelling and help your tissues heal faster. - Helps Grow New Blood Vessels
HBOT encourages your body to make new tiny blood vessels. These new vessels improve blood flow and bring more oxygen to injured areas, helping them heal. - Boosts the Immune System
Oxygen helps your white blood cells kill bacteria. HBOT gives your immune system the boost it needs to fight infections better. - Helps Repair Tissues
Some research shows that HBOT may also help your body make more stem cells, which are cells that can turn into many other types of cells. This can help repair damaged tissues.
What Can HBOT Treat?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved HBOT to treat several conditions, including:
- Decompression sickness (from scuba diving)
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Serious infections like gangrene
- Burns
- Chronic wounds, like diabetic foot ulcers
- Crush injuries
- Radiation injuries
- Skin grafts or flaps that aren’t healing well
Doctors are also exploring how HBOT might help with other problems, such as brain injuries, strokes, and long COVID, but more research is still needed.
What Is a Session Like?
During an HBOT session, you go into a chamber that looks like a clear tube or a small room. You lie down or sit, and the pressure slowly increases. You might feel your ears pop, like on an airplane, but that usually goes away after a few minutes.
The session lasts about 1 to 2 hours. You just breathe normally while relaxing. You might watch TV, read a book, or even take a nap. After the session, the chamber slowly goes back to normal pressure.
You might need one session or many, depending on your condition. Some people go every day for a few weeks to get the full benefit.
Are There Any Risks?
HBOT is usually safe, especially when done under medical supervision. But like any treatment, there can be side effects. These might include:
- Ear pain or pressure
- Feeling lightheaded or tired
- Changes in vision (usually temporary)
- In rare cases, oxygen poisoning (from too much oxygen)
People with certain health problems, like a collapsed lung, shouldn’t get HBOT. That’s why it’s important to talk to a doctor before starting. If you’re interested in learning more, we recommend visiting a Draper chiropractor for more information.
In Conclusion
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a powerful way to help your body heal. By breathing pure oxygen in a high-pressure chamber, you give your cells the fuel they need to repair injuries, fight infections, and grow new tissue. It’s not a magic cure, but for many people, it’s an important part of getting better. Whether it’s healing a stubborn wound or helping with a serious infection, HBOT shows how something as simple as oxygen can make a big difference.
