Written by Mike Price, OT
We perform best when our cells are well oxygenated. When cellular processes are compromised by injury, illness, and even the natural aging process, hyperbaric chambers provide a way to increase the amount of oxygen available for our bodies to work efficiently. A home hyperbaric chamber brings the many benefits of oxygen therapy directly to the user to enjoy on their own terms, in their own home, on their own schedule.
If you have a demanding lifestyle that requires you to consistently perform at a high level, are challenged by or recovering from any of the long list of conditions oxygen therapy is used to treat, or just want to feel your best and enjoy your life to the fullest -- hyperbaric therapy could be a valuable addition to your wellness routine.
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A hyperbaric chamber is an enclosure wherein a user breathes in oxygen at levels above normal atmospheric pressure. The goal is to fill the blood with enough oxygen to repair tissues and restore body functions. While a user is in the chamber breathing supplemental oxygen under increased pressure, oxygen saturates their red blood cells. The additional pressure directly infuses oxygen into bodily fluids. This includes plasma, lymphatic fluid, spinal fluid, and interstitial spaces and tissues.
There are two components to hyperbaric oxygen: increased oxygen concentration and increased air pressure.
During treatment, it is optional (but highly recommended) to administer 100% oxygen. Oxygen is administered from an oxygen concentrator, and it is delivered via nasal cannula or face mask. While this is optional, you really do not receive the benefits of HBOT if you don't use supplemental oxygen from an oxygen concentrator.
Most hyperbaric chambers are pressurized with ambient air (i.e., the air that surrounds you). All the chambers that Rehabmart sells are pressurized this way.
Some hyperbaric chambers in hospitals pressurize the chamber and administer oxygen in a different way (than stated above). Instead of pressurizing the chamber with ambient air, hospital hyperbaric chambers pressurize the chamber with 100% pure oxygen. This is only done in medical settings due to the fire hazard of having that much pure oxygen. This method is not ideal for home-use chambers; it requires compliance with numerous safety codes and can be dangerous.
There are many healing benefits derived from delivering oxygen-rich blood to tissue that is injured and starved for oxygen. Wounds and injuries damage blood vessels, causing the vessels to release fluid into the surrounding tissues, which then leads to swelling. This swelling deprives damaged cells of oxygen, potentially leading to tissue death. A hyperbaric chamber elevates the amount of oxygen in the blood to break the swelling/oxygen starvation/tissue death cycle.
HBOT prevents "reperfusion injury," which is the severe tissue damage caused when the blood supply returns to the tissues after a period of oxygen deprivation. Treatment in a hyperbaric chamber blocks harmful bacteria and boosts the body's immune system by increasing the level of oxygen concentration in tissues. HBOT also helps white blood cells efficiently find and destroy infections.
As we age, our bodies are less efficient at repairing and regenerating skin, removing unwanted toxins, and healing. Hyperbaric chambers can help our bodies do a better job of those things, even fighting declining cognitive skills that often accompany the aging process. Oxygen therapy promotes the formation of new connective tissue and skin cells by supporting the formation of new blood vessels and stimulating cell production of substances that promote healing and revitalization.
HBO, also known as HBOT, stands for Hyperbaric Oxygen or Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, and it has been around for almost four centuries. It refers to taking in oxygen while inside a pressurized chamber, which hyper-oxygenates the blood and tissues.
A home hyperbaric chamber is also known as a mild chamber. In a home hyperbaric chamber, the chamber is pressurized with ambient air. The in-hospital versions are pressured with 100% oxygen and are monitored during the treatment session. Since oxygen is so flammable, you can’t have a hospital-grade hyperbaric chamber at home.
Utilizing ambient air, medical supervision during treatment is not required. In addition to being appropriate for home use, these chambers are also great in wellness centers and other similar non-medical settings.
The convenience and multiple user-friendly designs to choose from among home hyperbaric chambers make the well-documented benefits of oxygen therapy available to anyone. Rehabmart has an extensive catalog of high quality home hyperbaric chambers that bring mHBOT to you.
There are three phases of hyperbaric oxygen treatments, with treatments lasting up to 2 hours each.
The temperature in the hyperbaric chamber will go up a bit during this phase. You’ll feel a "fullness" in your ears similar to when you’re on a commercial flight that’s landing. The increased pressure on the eardrum needs to be equalized, which is accomplished by swallowing and yawning. The temperature in the chamber also increases slightly during compression.
When the pressure reaches the prescribed level, the user breathes in oxygen through a face mask or nasal cannula. With home oxygen treatments, electronics are allowed in the chamber, so users can rest, sleep, listen to music, watch a movie, or scroll their smartphone to pass the time.
In the final phase, the chamber’s pressure is reduced to match surface pressure. A user will feel their ears pop again as the pressure returns to normal levels. This pressure reduction also will cause a mild dip in the temperature within the chamber. When the pressure is equalized to that of the outside, the treatment session is complete.
Hyperbaric chambers work because they infuse more oxygen than is possible breathing at normal air pressure. Therapy in a hyperbaric chamber supports increased levels of oxygen, which is involved in almost 6,000 known cellular processes in the body. Oxygen-enriched blood is circulated throughout the body, boosting the body’s ability to fight illness, recover from injury, and maintain good health.
There are a variety of hyperbaric chambers on the market to choose from. We have created The Ultimate Guide to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) to help you determine which chambers are the best fits for your medical needs, personal preferences, and budget. By exploring the types of chambers, answers to frequently asked questions, and product recommendations you can be confident you’ll be able to make an informed purchase.
Visit our online catalog to see the list of high quality Hyperbaric Chambers we offer. Thanks for reading, and we invite you to visit Caregiver University's Hyperbarics 101 for access to an extensive library of information on everything you need to know about the use of hyperbaric chambers.
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
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