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3.Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Pearls from the International Hyperbaric Therapy Conference
I had the opportunity to attend the International Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Functional Medicine Conference in June. I would like to share with you the pearls that I learned so you too can take advantage of this amazing therapy. I utilize hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a tool in the comprehensive treatment of a variety of conditions. It is generally not a stand-alone treatment. “Hyperbaric oxygen cures nothing and helps everything.” Oxygen is an essential nutrient that each of us needs to live.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is inhaling increased levels of oxygen at greater than 1 atmosphere in a pressurized chamber. At Healing Roots, we use a soft chamber pressurized at 1.3 atmospheres (atm), breathing 94% pure oxygen from a concentrator.
The conference was filled with studies and clinical expertise from those who have been using hyperbaric oxygen therapy for years. I present this in summary format so that you can see what may resonate with you and your loved ones.
Longevity: A key hallmark of aging is shortening of telomeres. HBOT may support a slowing of aging through increasing telomere length and clearing of senescent cells. [3]
Athletic Performance: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can enhance physical performance and increase VO2Max (maximal oxygen capacity). Both VO2max and anaerobic threshold are used to measure maximal aerobic fitness. One study utilized muscle biopsies to demonstrate the mechanism by which physical performance in healthy master athletes occurred. The mitochondria is the energy center of the cell. The biopsy demonstrated that there was significant improvement in mitochondrial respiration and an increase in mitochondrial mass. It is known that mitochondrial respiration and density differ between a trained and untrained individual. [13]
Neurological: Individuals diagnosed with PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) using HBOT improve cerebral blood flow resulting in improved cognitive functioning, and decrease in PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Most improvements in cognitive function occurred in memory and attention. Cognitive improvements correlated with increased activity in relevant brain areas per PET and SPECT scan. [1]
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can result in significant neurological improvements in post stroke including improvements in memory and speech. HBOT induces neuroplasticity by increasing oxygen to the tissues and triggering the regenerative process in the area of brain injury. [11]
HBOT contributes to slowing or reversing Alzheimer Disease symptoms by reducing hypoxia and increasing cerebral blood flow. Vascular dysfunction correlates with disease progression and affects outcome. It is known that improving vascular function and cerebral blood flow improves cognition in the elderly. [2]
There were many studies presented showing cognitive enhancement in healthy older adults.
Long COVID: Are you suffering from Long COVID symptoms? Many individuals experience sleep disorders, brain fog, lack of focus, fatigue, chest pain, lightheadedness, loss of taste and smell, skin rashes and hair loss, plus other symptoms. There is a hyperbaric oxygen therapy randomized controlled trial showing clinical improvement in post covid symptoms. This is thought to be attributed to increased brain perfusion and neuroplasticity. [4] Another study demonstrated statistically significant symptom improvement across most symptoms including sleep, anxiety, depression. [5]
Autoimmune Conditions: HBOT is effective with autoimmune conditions through proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory balance. Autoimmune diseases that have shown some benefit from HBOT include rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis when HBOT is introduced early in the process and is ongoing.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease has shown benefit from HBOT treatment, both as a stand-alone treatment and as an adjunctive treatment. HBOT has anti-inflammatory effects and stimulates stem cells that induce healing of the mucosal ulcers. It is noted that one of the conventional uses of HBOT is non-healing ulcers. There are multiple systematic reviews of the effectiveness of HBOT in treating inflammatory bowel disease. [6] HBOT stimulates stem cells and induces mucosal healing in individuals with chronic ulcerative colitis, according to a prospective case series. [7]
Chronic Lyme Disease: The primary feature of post infectious Lyme arthritis is an excessive proinflammatory immune response. The anti-inflammatory response, which is needed for balance is inadequate. The result is like what is seen in rheumatoid arthritis. There are some studies demonstrating the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy functioning as an anti-inflammatory treatment resulting in a more balanced immune response. [6, 8]
Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue, anxiety, autonomic changes such as dizziness when standing, and exercise intolerance. It is the third most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder after low back pain and osteoarthritis. HBOT demonstrates improvement, indicated by a decrease in the number of tender points and decrease in pain when compared to a sham group. Another study demonstrated improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms and in quality of life. A SPECT scan showed changes in the brain with improvement in pain related areas, and that it can induce neuroplasticity. [9]
Cancer: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for individuals diagnosed with cancer reduces inflammation, enhances natural killer cells, protects healthy cells, and improves quality of life. It is a recommended therapy before, during, and after radiation, before and after surgery, before, during and after chemotherapy. HBOT is FDA approved for radiation induced tissue damage. [12]
The most common complication of HBOT is middle ear barotrauma, which means an inability to equalize the pressure between the middle ear and the external environment. It generally occurs during the first dive (session). We spend time with you teaching you how to clear your ears. We are with you to adjust the pressure down if needed.
My personal experience with hyperbaric oxygen therapy is that it enhances my energy, clears my thinking and helps me to relax.
References
1. 1. Hadanny A, Abbott S, Suzin G, et al. Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on chronic neurocognitive deficits of post-traumatic brain injury patients: retrospective analysis. BMJ Open 2018.
2. Shapira, Ronit, et. al. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy alleviates vascular dysfunction and amyloid burden in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model and in elderly patients. Aging,2021, Sep 15; 13(17)
3. Hachmo Y. et al. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases telomere length and decreases immunosenescence in isolated blood cells: a prospective trial. Aging (Albany NY). 2020.
4. Zilberman-Itskovich, S. et.al. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy improves neurocognitive functions and symptoms of post-COVID condition: randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep 12,11252 (2022)
5. Kitala et.al. Preliminary Research on the Effect of Hyperbaric oxygen Therapy in Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome. J Clin Med., 12:308.
6. Kaur, H. et.al. Role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Current Opinion in Gastroenterology, (39)4, Jul 2023, 263-267.
7. Bekheit, et. al. 2016, BMJ Open Gastroenterology. 3(1).
8. Dulberger, A. et.al. The effects of hyperbaric oxygen on MRI findings in rheumatoid arthritis: A pilot study. Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine: Journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc., 01 Jan 2023, 50(1):39-43.
9. Lochhead, et.al. Lyme arthritis: Linking infection, inflammation, and autoimmunity. Nature Reviews Rheumatology, (17)8, 449-46
10. Atzeni, F. et.al. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in fibromyalgia and the diseases involving the central nervous system. Clin Exp Rheumatology 2020; 38 (Suppl. 123)
11. Hadanny, Amir. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves neurocognitive functions of post-stroke patients – a retrospective analysis. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol 38, (1), 93-107, 2020.
12. Ratansi, Zayd, Cancer Updates, 2023
13. Hadanny, Amir, et.al. Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Mitochondrial Respiration and Physical Performance in Middle-Aged Athletes: A Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial. Sports Medicine, vol 8, 22(2022)
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