(see “The Science and Physiology Behind HBOT” for a more scientific explanation)
Oxygen is the giver of life. If you are not certain what the most valuable commodity in the world is, just hold your breath, the answer will come to you in about a minute or so.
With each breath we take, ~21% of the air we breathe is a new supply of oxygen entering our body. The oxygen enters your lungs, where it attaches to your red blood cells. Then, it is the job of the RBCs to transport the oxygen to all the cells in your body. Our bodies use the oxygen to grow, repair itself, and defend itself from disease and destruction. Oxygen is the fuel the cells use to metabolize glucose. This is how energy is created for the body to use.
Hyperbaric Oxygen is basically oxygen delivered under pressure. A hyperbaric oxygen chamber is a sealed chamber, into which oxygen is pumped under a controlled amount of pressure. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy allows a patient to breathe up to more than 4 times the normal amount of oxygen while they are in the pressurized chamber, thereby greatly increasing the oxygenation of all of their organs, tissues, and body fluids. It is the pressure of the chamber that allows for the much greater absorption of the oxygen provided. Breathing 100% pure oxygen outside the chamber will not significantly increase your oxygen uptake by the cells at all. When a patient is in the chamber, the increased pressure causes the blood plasma and other liquids of the body to absorb much larger quantities of oxygen, greatly increasing oxygen uptake by the cells, tissues, glands, organs, brain, and all fluids of the body. This becomes a “goldmine” of oxygen, which can then be utilized by the body for vital functions.
This increase in oxygen allows for increased circulation to areas in spite of swelling or inflammation. At the same time, the increased pressure decreases the swelling and inflammation.
This additional oxygen helps in the healing process and enhances the white blood cells’ ability to fight infection. It can promote the development of new capillaries, the tiny blood vessels that connect arteries to veins. It also helps the body build new connective tissue. HBOT helps impaired organs to function better.
By providing the cells with an abundance of oxygen, the cells react by becoming more enlivened. The cells can now function more efficiently and carry out their processes in an accelerated manner. Cellular functioning -> cellular repair -> cellular healing!
So your immune system can be “jump-started” and fueled into greater action.
Healthier cells equals healthier tissues, organs, and bodily functioning.
The human body is often capable of healing itself when it gets what it needs. There is NOTHING the human body needs more than OXYGEN.
Bottom Line: For your health, begin to think cellular ! The health of your cells determines the health of your bodily tissues, which then determines the health of each of your organs of life.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy dissolves much greater amounts of oxygen into your cells -> tissues -> organs. Hyperbaric Oxygen dissolves increased oxygen into your blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. One of the most important facts to understand is that the health and functioning of your brain, one of your many organs, is most sensitive to oxygen deficiencies. The brain is also the most responsive organ to oxygen super-saturation. This is the reason we believe stroke victims, as well as other patients who have brain and nervous system-related conditions, and those with cognitive difficulties, respond so well to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.