The hyperbaric chamber used in oxygen therapy resembles the interior of an airplane or submarine, where one breathes pure oxygen at increased pressure, similar to the conditions found at the bottom of the sea.
Such a device has been available for the past seven years at the Military Medical Institute in Warsaw. It can be used daily, including weekends and holidays. About 800 people decide to use it each month, and the popularity of this treatment method is steadily increasing.
The oxygen therapy capsule has sixteen seats, and each session lasts around 90 minutes (the compression itself, which mimics diving several meters underwater, takes about 10 minutes).
Depending on the condition, improvement is usually felt after several visits—doctors typically recommend between 15 to 60 sessions.
During the procedure, one can read books, listen to the radio, or enjoy favorite music—the primary goal is relaxation, and the therapeutic effects come from breathing pure oxygen. What are the benefits?
How does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy heal? Yale medical experts explain
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a treatment method that involves exposing the patient to gas mixtures containing high concentrations of oxygen under increased pressure conditions.
Rummana Aslam, an expert in physical medicine and rehabilitation, states that while hyperbaric oxygen therapy is frequently utilized to aid individuals with diabetes, it also has numerous other uses.
Oxygen Therapy - benefits and contraindications
As explained by Adam Pastusiak, head of the clinical hyperbaric medicine department at the Military Medical Institute on Szaserów Street in Warsaw, oxygen therapy is recommended for urgent cases like carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as for chronic conditions and hard-to-heal wounds, ulcers, or varicose veins.
The method harnessing the unique properties of oxygen can also be beneficial for individuals suffering from diabetic foot, patients post-surgery, various infections, and aseptic bone necrosis.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy also brings positive results for those with hearing loss, acoustic trauma, and gas embolisms, as well as after various diving accidents. However, contraindications for using HBOT include cancer and heart failure.
Source: IAR/WIM/YouTube.com/Yale Medicine
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