Conditions approved by the UHMS, The
Undersea And Hyperbaric Medical Society, for treatment with
Hyperbaric Oxygen
1. Air or Gas Embolism
2. Carbon Monoxide
3. Clostridal Myositis & Myonecrosis (Gas Gangrene)
4. Crush Injury
5. Decompression Sickness and Arterial Gas Embolism
6. Enhancement of Healing In Selected Problems Wounds
7. Exceptional Blood Loss - Anemia
8. Intracranial Abscess
9. Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections
10. Refractory Osteomyelitis
11. Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments For Complications of Radiation
Therapy
12. Skin Grafts And Flaps (Compromised)
13. Thermal Burns
Secondary, non UHMS approved, indications for Hyperbaric Oxygen
Therapy
Traumatic Brain Injury and Coma, Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, Autism and
Epilepsy, Age-related Macular Degeneration, Alzheimer's Disease,
Plastic Surgery, Heart Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Migraines,
Substance Abuse, Lyme Disease, Fungal Infections, Near Drowning,
Back Problems, Post Polio Syndrome, Glaucoma, Scleroderma,
Peripheral Neuropathy, Chronic Fatigue, Complex Regional Pain
Syndrome, Immune Balance, Sports Injuries, Frost Bite, Crohn's
Disease and Colitis, Lymphedema, Crohn's Disease, Chemical Detox
Complications from radiation therapy
Radiation therapy for invasive cancer is very toxic, especially when
combined with chemotherapy. Radiation side effects are generally
divided into two categories.
First, there are those that happen during or just after the
treatment, called acute reactions that almost always resolve with
time and are treated in such a way as to address the patient’s
symptoms. Fortunately, normal tissue cells have excellent repair
abilities and within a few weeks after the completion of radiation,
this damage is repaired. In the meantime, the patient is supported
with pain medicine and supplemental nutrition.
Health Benefits Of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Second, there are those that happen months or even years after the
treatment, called chronic complications that are likely to get
worse. Almost all chronic radiation complications result from
scarring and narrowing of blood vessels. If this process progresses,
death or necrosis of these tissues can occur.
The high dose oxygen provided in the HBOT treatment is carried in
the patient’s circulation to the site of injury to be available for
repair of the damage done by the narrowing and scarring of the blood
vessels. Each treatment typically takes one to two hours, and
usually 30-40 daily treatments are needed for healing radiation
damage.
HBOT can help in dealing with these chronic complications:
Childhood Conditions
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may be an effective treatment for
childhood conditions like Cerebral Palsy (CP), Autism and Epilepsy.
SPECT scans show areas of low perfusion, or oxygen utilization in
the brain. After a series of treatments this perfusion is often
greatly improved, along with the condition being treated.
Over a course of treatments HBOT can enhance development of the
brain in children by producing growth factors such as VEGF (Vascular
endothelial growth factor), serotonin etc. (The maturational changes
in the brain and spinal cord do not linearly proceed from immature
in infants to mature in adults. Dendrites dynamically extend or
retract as growth factors fluctuate.) HBOT helps reduce seizures in
epileptics, increase mobility in CP children and improve behaviour
and cognition in autistic children.
Aging and Wellness
Adults suffering from conditions such as stroke, diabetes, traumatic
brain injury and Alzheimer’s like dementia related to vascular
problems also benefit. HBOT helps improve circulation, reduces
swelling, and enhances and balances the body’s immunity and
production of growth factors. Improvements in brain perfusion are
often seen on SPECT scans. As we get older our mitochondria function
less efficiently and create more free radicals. Species whose
mitochondria produce the fewest free radicals tend to live the
longest. HBOT can help the mitochondria burn food more efficiently.
HBOT also helps the cells produce beneficial heat shock proteins.
One of the factors that contributes to longevity is having lungs and
a circulatory system that can easily distribute oxygen to the
tissues. As people grow older, their ability to absorb oxygen
gradually decreases. Conditions like arthritis, memory loss, bone
loss, macular degeneration, heart problems, strokes, atherosclerosis
and high blood pressure begin affecting their quality of life. By
using HBOT it is possible to periodically restore oxygen levels in
the tissues to youthful levels.
In many European, Asian and South American countries HBOT is used
for health maintenance by seniors and health conscious individuals.
In England, HBOT is used on a maintenance basis weekly or monthly
for multiple sclerosis and other conditions.
Chronic Pain, Tissue Injuries and Wounds
At higher pressures, 2 atmospheres and above, HBOT is helpful for
conditions like chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS), sports
injuries, Crohn's disease, non healing wounds, severe burns,
radiation damage from cancer treatment, diabetic ulcers, severe
infections, carbon monoxide poisoning and so on.
HBOT may:
* Reduce swelling or edema.
* Reduce reperfusion injury, an immune response to tissues damaged
by a lack of oxygen.
* Enhance collagen formation for wound repair.
* Enhance osteoclast/osteoblast activity for bone healing.
* lncrease the micro-circulation for long term increase in nutrient
and oxygen delivery to tissues, as well as metabolic waste removal.
* Enhance white blood cell activity to prevent and heal infections.
* Assist certain antibiotics to destroy bacteria.
* Help fight fungal infections.
* Help mitochondria recover from poisons like carbon monoxide. HBO2
enables the mitochondria to use alternate pathways to produce energy
or ATP.
* Help the liver with detoxification.
* Assist peripheral nerve growth.
Each country's medical associations support a list of approved
indications for the uses of HBOT. The current list of approved
disorders accepted as indications for HBOT may be found for each of
the following societies.
Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS)
* American College of Hyperbaric Medicine (ACHM)
* Advisory Committee for Hyperbaric Oxygen in Belgium (ACHOBEL)
* European Underwater and Baromedical Society (EUBS)
* British Hyperbaric Association (BHA)
* Enhances osteoclast/osteoblast activity for bone healing.
* International Congress on Hyperbaric Medicine (ICHM)
* South Pacific Underwater Medical Society (SPUMS)
* German Society of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine (GTUEM)
* Japanese Society for Hyperbaric Medicine (JSHM)
* Chinese Society of Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine (CSHOM)
* South African Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Association (SAUHMA)
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