Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for Brain Health
If you’re wondering what in the world hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Here’s an overview of how HBOT works and ways it can benefit you. In this post, we’re going to dive into a more specific application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy: HBOT for brain health.
What Exactly is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
HBOT is a medical treatment that allows you to absorb more oxygen than you can at normal air pressure. We already use almost all of the oxygen available to us, which is carried through the body via the hemoglobin molecules of our blood. But when oxygen is pressurized and converted into liquid form, it can then enter the plasma as well. In a hyperbaric chamber, you dramatically increase the amount of oxygen your body can carry.
We tend to think of oxygen as something that primarily affects our lungs and breathing. But oxygen is essential to the functioning of both the body and the mind. The brain requires more oxygen than almost any other organ, and a lack of oxygen can have dire consequences for cognitive functioning and mental health. This connection between oxygen and the mind leads to the obvious question: Is HBOT good for brain health?
HBOT and Brain Health
The short answer is yes. While hyperbaric oxygen therapy has an excellent track record of treating infections and wounds, bubbles of air in the blood vessels, and decompression sickness, there is increasing evidence to suggest that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can benefit our minds as well. Because it increases the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain, HBOT promotes healing and may reduce some of the cognitive impairments many of us experience as we grow older. This treatment has great potential to help prevent and possibly reverse some of the effects of diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has also shown great promise as a treatment for traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries create a host of problems, which may include:
- Impaired cognitive functioning
- Headaches
- Feelings of anxiety and depression
- Memory problems
- Sleep difficulties
Of course, poor brain health isn’t always related to age or injury. Depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, schizophrenia, ADHD, and more can have a huge impact on quality of life. And these types of issues, like those listed above, are linked to low blood flow to the brain. So HBOT may also be able to help those who suffer from mental health disorders.
Is HBOT Right for Me?
At Tracy and Keim Chiropractic, we’re passionate about promoting holistic wellness and guiding our patients to the best treatment options for their individual situations. HBOT is a safe and noninvasive treatment that we provide at our Eugene, Oregon chiropractic office.
If you feel that HBOT could be a helpful tool in your treatment of physical or mental challenges, have questions about hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or would like to learn more, please contact us. We can help you decide if HBOT is right for you. We look forward to assisting you in your wellness journey.
References:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/about/pac-20394380
- https://www.amenclinics.com/blog/3-surprising-ways-hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-helps-brain-health/
- https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/study-reveals-brains-finely-tuned-system-of-energy-supply
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200715123143.htm
- https://nationalhyperbaric.com/hbot-treatments-and-conditions/
Posted In:
Chiropractic
HBOT Therapy
Traumatic Brain Injury
Headache
Anxiety/Depression
Alzheimer's
