| Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a treatment | | | | accommodate sometimes as many as a dozen |
| which essentially involves providing the | | | | patients at a time and it is possible to |
| body with extra oxygen. The word 'Hyper' | | | | walk into them. Patients either sit on |
| means 'increased' and 'Baric' refers to | | | | benches or lie inside these chambers. |
| pressure. As we all know, Oxygen is one | | | | 100% pure oxygen is administered via |
| of the gases in the air that we breathe | | | | either a mask or a clear plastic hood. |
| and is essential for life. The air that | | | | HBO sessions usually last from one to |
| we breathe normally contains 21% oxygen. | | | | three hours depending on the nature of |
| Breathing in 100% oxygen under increased | | | | the treatment program. Treatment |
| pressure within a hyperbaric chamber | | | | sessions within the hyperbaric chamber |
| allows extra oxygen to be forced into | | | | are normally repeated over several days |
| the blood stream and dissolved at a much | | | | or even weeks. |
| faster rate than if pressure was not | | | | HBO therapy is increasingly being used |
| used. Another effect is the increased | | | | for helping patients who have been |
| oxygen transport capacity of the blood. | | | | subjected to conventional radiotherapy |
| Under atmospheric pressure, oxygen | | | | treatment for cancer and are now |
| transport is limited by the oxygen | | | | suffering the after-effects. A major |
| binding capacity of hemoglobin in red | | | | problem with radiotherapy is that, since |
| blood cells, which almost reaches | | | | it not only kills cancer cells but also |
| saturation at atmospheric pressure, very | | | | nearby healthy cells at the same time, |
| little oxygen being transported by | | | | it can cause changes in the oxygen |
| plasma. However Oxygen transport by | | | | supply to tissues in the treated area, |
| plasma is significantly increased under | | | | since less blood is supplied to the |
| HBO therapy.This extra oxygen can help | | | | area. The result is that it becomes more |
| where healing is retarded due to | | | | difficult oxygen and essential nutrients |
| infection or limited blood supply | | | | to reach the tissues. Over a period of |
| through tissue damage. | | | | time these tissues can become very |
| Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: | | | | fragile, break down and ulcerate. |
| - HBO facilitates the growth of new | | | | Sometimes tissue can even completely die |
| blood vessels, enabling the transport of | | | | (radiation necrosis). |
| additional blood; - HBO augments the | | | | Studies indicate that HBO therapy can be |
| body's natural defence mechanisms to | | | | effective in the following conditions: |
| fight infection and kill bacteria; - | | | | - Chronic lymphoedema in breast cancer; |
| HBO helps reduce any swelling that may | | | | - Chronic radiation cystitis; - Pelvic |
| occur around an area subjected to | | | | cancer; - Bowel cancer; - Prostate |
| radiotherapy. | | | | cancer; - Osteoradionecrosis; - Chronic |
| The treatment is normally painfree and | | | | radiation proctitis; - Acute blood loss |
| is carried out in specially-designed | | | | anemia |
| chambers known as "hyperbaric chambers". | | | | I hope that this brief article on |
| There are two basic types of chamber: | | | | Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has provided a |
| monoplace chambers and a multiplace | | | | brief insight into the importance of |
| chambers. | | | | oxygen in the correct functioning of the |
| A monoplace hyperbaric chamber for | | | | body, plus its role not only in the |
| treating one person at a time and | | | | treatment of cancer but also how it can |
| involves the patient lying on a padded | | | | be used in overcoming some of the |
| stretcher that is then slid into a clear | | | | serious adverse side effects of |
| plastic chamber about 2ft in width. Once | | | | conventional cancer treatments. Perhaps |
| inside, the door is closed and the | | | | it will encourage you to further |
| chamber is pressurised. | | | | investigate this fascinating subject. As |
| Multiplace hyperbaric chambers can treat | | | | always, you should seek the guidance of |
| several people at a time. The multiplace | | | | a professional medical fractioned before |
| chamber is the type most frequently | | | | taking any medications or undergoing any |
| used. These chambers are big enough to | | | | form of therapy. |