Hyperbaric oxygen therapy candidates can include a number of different patients. This new therapy has begun to be used in ways that you may not think of. Here are a few reasons you may be a good candidate for hyperbaric oxygen therapy:
Those in Need of Accelerated Healing
One of the many things that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may assist with is the healing process. If you are a patient that has undergone surgeries or other types of wounds, you may want to consider hyperbaric oxygen chambers as a part of your healing process. When a patient is going through this treatment, the levels of oxygen are increased two to three times what they normally are. The body is flooded with oxygen during treatment. The increased oxygen levels help the blood flow and can accelerate the healing process. Here are some wounds that may benefit from accelerated healing with hyperbaric oxygen therapy:
- Acute traumatic peripheral ischemia
- Certain skin grafts or flaps
- Chronic refractory osteomyelitis
- Crush injuries
- Diabetic wounds
- Radiation injuries
These are just a few of the soft tissue wounds that may benefit from the quickened healing hyperbaric oxygen treatment may offer. If you are at risk of slowed healing or would prefer a quicker healing process, you may be a good candidate for this treatment.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Patients
If you are a patient that has carbon monoxide poisoning, you may be a good candidate for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. By breathing in the pure oxygen from the hyperbaric chambers, you can speed up the time it takes for oxygen to replace the carbon monoxide in your blood. Depending on the severity of the poisoning, this treatment may be helpful to you.
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment may be helpful to those with severe cases of carbon monoxide poisoning because the oxygen chambers can protect the heart and brain tissue as they can be harmed if the poisoning is severe enough.
Some physicians may recommend this treatment for those who are pregnant while getting carbon monoxide poisoning. This is because the fetus may be easily harmed by the damage caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Hyperbaric chambers can be a safe and natural way to replace the carbon monoxide in the blood. If you have carbon monoxide poisoning, your physician can tell you whether or not this treatment is right for you.
Other Conditions
You may be a good candidate for hyperbaric oxygen treatment if you suffer from any of the following conditions:
- Alzheimer’s
- Anemia
- Arthritis
- Autism
- Cerebral Palsy
- Decompression Sickness
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Fibromyalgia
- Lyme Disease
- Migraines
- Neurological Disorders
- Osteomyelitis
- Osteoporosis
- Psoriasis
- PTSD
- Stroke Issues
- Traumatic Brain Injury
These are just a few of the conditions that may make you a good candidate for oxygen therapy. Hyperbaric chambers can be great for those who are not achieving success through traditional treatments. Every situation is different, so every treatment cycle length will be different as well. Although hyperbaric oxygen treatment can be helpful for those who have these conditions, keep in mind that it cannot cure these symptoms completely. This will simply aid in reducing side effects.
Who Should Not Receive Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
There are a few different groups that may not benefit from receiving hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The first group is those who do not have a prescription for the treatment. The FDA has categorized hyperbaric oxygen as a drug. Because of this categorization, those who are considering the treatment should speak with their physician to have a prescription written for them. You can also find a treatment center near you to make an appointment to see a hyperbaric oxygen physician.
Others who may not benefit from this treatment are those who are sick with the cold or flu. It is not recommended to receive this treatment while ill as it may alter the results you see. There are also certain medications that should be avoided while receiving treatment. Speak with a physician to see if you are on any of these medications.
After receiving clearance from a physician, research to see if you could be a good candidate for this treatment.
Are You a Good Candidate?
To find out whether or not you are a good candidate for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, search for your local HBOT facility to see if this treatment is right for you.
