What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing oxygen in a pressurized environment.
At Lake Oswego, HBOT takes place in a controlled, pressurized chamber designed to increase the level of oxygen absorbed by the body. In a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, the air pressure is increased two to three times higher than normal air pressure, which allows your lungs to gather much more oxygen than would be possible breathing oxygen at normal air pressure, thus triggering the healing effects of oxygen more quickly.
Because oxygen is key to the healing process, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used to treat several illnesses and injuries. It can also assist with overall wellness when chronic conditions impair the body’s ability to disburse oxygen effectively (e.g., the circulatory issues that often accompany diabetes).
How HBOT Works
To prepare for the HBOT process, we ask patients to arrive in comfortable clothes—often just a tank top and shorts to wear while in the chamber. We do offer space to change before entering the chamber. Patients need to wash their face, remove all jewelry, and make sure that they do not bring any sharp objects into the chamber (pens, rings, etc).
Once you enter the chamber and the process begins, you will feel compressed air move into the tube and pressure will slowly increase and then decrease as your session ends. The increased air pressure will create a temporary feeling of fullness in your ears, which may feel uncomfortable, but is rarely painful.
Each session lasts less two hours from start to finish and a staff member will always be present to ensure your comfort level and safety. The number of sessions you will require depends on your condition and how your body responds to treatment.
HBOT Benefits and Side Effects
The primary benefit of HBOT is your body’s increase in oxygen uptake. This helps your body recover from certain health conditions and can help:
- Promote healing
- Increase oxygen concentration
- Encourage new tissue growth
- Stimulate growth factors
- Reduce inflammation
We will discuss and review any concerns you may before starting the session. If you have a pacemaker, we are not able to perform this treatment, as it may malfunction.
HBOT is not for everyone. If your doctor is not familiar with hyperbaric therapy, contact us to schedule a short consultation with our healthcare provider to determine if this is the right service for you.
Is HBOT Right for You?
If you have a condition that might be helped through HBOT, reach out to our clinic to learn more.