Hyperbaric oxygen therapy near me is a treatment that involves breathing 100% (pure) oxygen in a space called a chamber. The chamber is pressurized 1.5 to 3 times more than normal air pressure. HBOT allows your lungs to collect more oxygen and helps fight certain infections and heal wounds that don’t respond to other treatments. It also treats carbon monoxide poisoning and certain types of pneumonia, including those caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis and emphysema.
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy used to treat?
Before treatment, your doctor may ask you to take a blood test or other tests. You might also need to wear a mask or a lightweight, clear hood while in the chamber. The room is designed for a single person or may look like a large hospital room that can accommodate several people at once (multiplace chamber). You’ll sit or lie down and receive the oxygen through the mask or hood. Once you enter the chamber, it will close slowly and there might be a hissing sound as the air pressure builds inside. You might feel a temporary fullness in your ears (barotrauma) that is similar to the feeling of flying in an airplane or traveling to high elevations. You can relieve this sensation by yawning or swallowing.
If your doctor decides that you’re a candidate for HBOT, they may order a series of sessions at regular intervals. A session lasts about an hour or two, and during the treatment you’ll sit or lie comfortably in the chamber, breathing the pure oxygen. It’s a safe treatment, and most people feel calm and relaxed during the treatment.