The Benefits of Hyperbaric Chambers

Discover the healing benefits of hyperbaric chambers. Next Health introduces this innovative therapy for enhanced well-being. Contact us today to know more.

The Benefits of Hyperbaric Chambers
Next Health Staff
|
December 6, 2023

Our bodies require lots of oxygen in order to thrive, especially during times of stress. But the normal atmosphere is oftentimes contaminated or polluted with toxins, synthetic chemicals, and other components.

Furthermore, the air you breathe outside or indoors is usually only comprised of about 20.9% oxygen. The rest is nitrogen and other trace gases. Hyperbaric chambers, however, allow you to breathe in highly oxygenated air and experience distinct physiological benefits as a result.

Today, let’s break down the benefits of hyperbaric chambers like the kinds offered at Next Health.

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an effective therapeutic experience. During a therapy session, you sit within a sealed hyperbaric oxygen chamber and breathe an air mixture comprised of 95% pure oxygen. This highly oxygenated air is better for you than the typical air composition outside.

Perhaps more importantly, the air within a hyperbaric oxygen chamber is specifically formulated to be devoid of toxins or pollutants, including heavy metals and chemicals.

During a hyperbaric oxygen therapy session, you can kick back, relax, and simply breathe freely. Alternatively, you can watch media on a device or screen within the chamber, read a book, or listen to music. High-quality hyperbaric chambers like those at Next Health include USB ports and chargers so you can bring your devices with you.

Regardless, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is safe, effective, and supremely comfortable. Over time, you'll feel as though you can breathe more easily plus experience a range of other beneficial effects.

How Does a Hyperbaric Chamber Work?

A high-quality hyperbaric chamber works by increasing air pressure and boosting the amount of oxygen in a confined space. Most sessions have the air pressure increased to 2 to 3 times greater than normal air pressure. Furthermore, sealed hyperbaric chambers receive specially mixed air, oftentimes with higher than average oxygen content.

By pressurizing the air, your lungs are able to gather and absorb far more oxygen than they normally can. In a matter of seconds, your body can absorb and carry that extra oxygen throughout the body.

Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can provide numerous benefits. However, these benefits only kick in if you enjoy your therapy in a fully sealed, well-designed hyperbaric chamber. Good hyperbaric chambers prevent outside air from getting in and offer numerous amenities, like charging ports or places for you to set beverages.

Better Oxygen Absorption

For starters, hyperbaric oxygen therapy necessarily gives your lungs more oxygen to absorb. It’s an important part of the energy transformation process – we need oxygen to survive and can’t live long without it.

By breathing and more concentrated oxygen, you directly improve your body's energy transformation processes and may experience a general feeling of health and relaxation. For example, your chest might feel lighter than before or you might discover that your mind "clears up" or feels more focused.

Benefits for Injuries

However, the primary benefit of hyperbaric chamber experiences is injury healing. Official healthcare organizations sometimes use hyperbaric therapy in the wound healing process. Its effects for wound care, including crush injuries, open wounds, and more are highly beneficial.

Medical professionals oftentimes use hyperbaric therapy to treat various medical conditions. These include:

  • Burns and skin grafts
  • Severe anemia
  • Frostbite
  • Bone infections
  • Wounds that don’t respond well to other treatments

Why? Put simply, a hyperbaric chamber’s concentrated pressure and oxygen content helps your body absorb much more oxygen than before. As your body processes the oxygen, it concentrates the delivery of those oxygen molecules to certain areas.

Your body naturally prioritizes wounds, inflamed areas, or other places that may need extra oxygen. Once your cells receive those oxygen molecules, their mitochondria are empowered and invigorated. The mitochondria are responsible for generating and providing your cells with energy.

Therefore, hyperbaric oxygen therapy directly improves the energy your cells have to work with. This, in turn, allows them to recover better from injuries and stimulates cell repair. There's some evidence to suggest that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can even attract healing stem cells to impaired or injured areas.

While hyperbaric oxygen therapy can’t heal wounds by itself, there’s lots of evidence to show that it does assist with the recovery process from all manner of injuries. Whether your injuries are external or internal, you may benefit from a hyperbaric session or two if your recovery process has lasted longer than it should.

Other Medical Improvements

That’s not all hyperbaric chambers can provide. For example, those experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning may benefit greatly from hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Their bodies need extra oxygen to recover quickly, and hyperbaric chambers can provide both the pure oxygen and the delivery method necessary for this therapy to succeed.

Furthermore, the increased oxygen levels your blood receives may help your immune system fight off infections. Essentially, the more energy you give your body, the better it can perform all of its normal functions, including tissue regeneration and immune system functionality.

Detoxification

On top of all that, high-pressure hyperbaric chambers can promote the detoxification of your blood and various tissues. Most people experience an increase in their heart rate and blood flow under the effects of a hyperbaric chamber. Remember, most hyperbaric chambers increase air pressure by 2 to 3 times what you are normally used to.

When this occurs, your blood carries far more oxygen throughout your body tissues. This higher than average blood flow also carries waste products and toxins out more quickly. Those toxins can emerge from your sweat, your breath, or elsewhere.

What To Expect From Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Next Health

When you sign up for hyperbaric oxygen therapy at a Next Health location, you'll first be guided through the therapeutic process by one of our wellness specialists. They can answer any questions you have, break down what will happen during your therapy session, and will guide you to your hyperbaric chamber.

Next, you’ll sit inside your hyperbaric chamber and wait for the oxygen to flow. In a matter of moments, you’ll breathe a therapeutic air mixture comprised of 95% pure oxygen. Breathe in deeply, sit back or lie down, and enjoy your time.

Of course, if you have to leave for one reason or another, you can always cut your hyperbaric oxygen therapy session short. Furthermore, our specialists will remain on hand throughout the duration of your appointment if you have questions or concerns.

At Next Health, we prioritize your health and comfort above all else. We recommend 60-minute sessions twice a week for ideal results.

Does Hyperbaric Therapy Come with Side Effects?

When you first experience hyperbaric oxygen therapy, you'll feel a little strange as the highly pressured air enters the chamber. It should be similar to what you experience when you fly in an airplane.

Generally, hyperbaric chambers only carry the possibility of minimal risks, like temporary nearsightedness or low blood sugar.

Some individuals experience decompression sickness, which is due to the change in atmospheric pressure, as well. However, hyperbaric medicine is generally safe - under the supervision of Next Health’s staff, you’ll be supported throughout your appointment.

Next Health will screen you before guiding you to a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to make sure there is minimal risk of any of these side effects.

Summary

At the end of the day, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not just used for treating injuries. It can also provide well-rounded wellness benefits to everyday people, including those who just want to destress or detoxify their bodies.

There’s no reason to wait. When you contact Next Health today, you can sign up for an appointment or ask one of our wellness specialists for more information about hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Sources:

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Hyperbaric oxygen – its mechanisms and efficacy - PMC | NCBI

A General Overview on the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Applications, Mechanisms and Translational Opportunities - PMC | NCBI

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