The FDA Have Approved HBOT To Help Treat

• DCI
• an air or gas embolism
• anemia due to severe blood loss
• some brain and sinus infections ADD LINK
• carbon monoxide poisoning
• burns resulting from heat or fire
• skin grafts
• necrotizing soft tissue infections
• osteomyelitis, a bone marrow infection
• arterial insufficiency, or low blood flow in the arteries
• acute traumatic ischemia, which may involve a crush injury, for example
• gas gangrene
• a radiation injury, for example, as a result of cancer treatment

Evidence has shown that these uses are safe and effective. Insurance companies or Medicare usually cover the cost of FDA-approved HBOT treatment.

Some healthcare providers may use HBOT to treat other conditions, including a type of hearing loss.

Also, wounds and infections that have not responded to other treatment may respond to HBOT. For example, it may help reduce the need for amputation in people with diabetic foot ulcers.

What To Expect With An HBOT Treatment

HBOT is usually an outpatient procedure, and a doctor will recommend a certain number of sessions, depending on a person’s condition.

For some people with carbon monoxide poisoning, one session is enough.

In some studies involving soft tissue necrosis, participants each received an average of eight treatments.

An HBOT session typically involves:

• putting on a cotton medical gown
• sitting or lying in a sealed chamber, either alone or with other people, in which case the chamber will be room-sized
• receiving pressurized oxygen, which may arrive through a mask or a hood
• talking with a therapist or technician during the session, if desired
• possibly listening to music or watching TV to encourage relaxation

In a chamber for one, the person usually lies on a table that slides into a clear plastic tube.

The length of the session will depend on the reason for the treatment. A session may last 30 minutes to 2 hours. For chronic illnesses, a session usually lasts around 2 hours.