What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Every body needs more oxygen
Mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy raises the levels of oxygen in the body's
blood plasma. Increased oxygen in the plasma leads to higher amounts of
oxygen being delivered to the body's tissues, organs and brain. The brain -
which is only two percent of our total weight - uses more than twenty percent of
the body's oxygen. Only ten percent of our energy comes from the food we eat,
while the remaining ninety percent comes from oxygen.
Under pressure, additional oxygen is dissolved into the blood plasma and
enters the tissues directly.
Mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy promotes relaxation, stimulates the body's
healing processes, increases stamina and endurance and also helps the body to
return to a state of balance and wellbeing.
For the more technically minded: Gas under pressure diffuses into a liquid.
When the body is subjected to increased pressure, the fluids, tissues and cells
are able to absorb much more oxygen than we would normally breathe in. (For the
really technical stuff Google Henry’s law.)
So how does this work?
Blood is made up of three main components; white blood cells that fight
infection, red blood cells that carry oxygen and plasma, the fluid that carries
both kinds of cells throughout the body. Under normal circumstances, the red
cells carry the majority of oxygen while the plasma carries about 3% of oxygen.
Since mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy forces oxygen into the body fluids under
pressure, more oxygen is dissolved into the plasma greatly increasing the oxygen
levels. The fluids then carry the extra oxygen throughout the body to enhance
the body’s natural healing process.
How much more oxygen will be available as a result of hyperbaric
therapy?
We actually only use between 4 and 6% of the oxygen we breathe. During
treatment around 24 - 30% oxygen is available to us. In effect, under pressure
the body can absorb almost ten times more oxygen than normal.
Every body needs more oxygen
Mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy raises the levels of oxygen in the body's
blood plasma. Increased oxygen in the plasma leads to higher amounts of
oxygen being delivered to the body's tissues, organs and brain. The brain -
which is only two percent of our total weight - uses more than twenty percent of
the body's oxygen. Only ten percent of our energy comes from the food we eat,
while the remaining ninety percent comes from oxygen.
Under pressure, additional oxygen is dissolved into the blood plasma and
enters the tissues directly.
Mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy promotes relaxation, stimulates the body's
healing processes, increases stamina and endurance and also helps the body to
return to a state of balance and wellbeing.
For the more technically minded: Gas under pressure diffuses into a liquid.
When the body is subjected to increased pressure, the fluids, tissues and cells
are able to absorb much more oxygen than we would normally breathe in. (For the
really technical stuff Google Henry’s law.)
So how does this work?
Blood is made up of three main components; white blood cells that fight
infection, red blood cells that carry oxygen and plasma, the fluid that carries
both kinds of cells throughout the body. Under normal circumstances, the red
cells carry the majority of oxygen while the plasma carries about 3% of oxygen.
Since mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy forces oxygen into the body fluids under
pressure, more oxygen is dissolved into the plasma greatly increasing the oxygen
levels. The fluids then carry the extra oxygen throughout the body to enhance
the body’s natural healing process.
How much more oxygen will be available as a result of hyperbaric
therapy?
We actually only use between 4 and 6% of the oxygen we breathe. During
treatment around 24 - 30% oxygen is available to us. In effect, under pressure
the body can absorb almost ten times more oxygen than normal.