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