What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

At Healthy Life Chiropractic, we are proud to provide our patients in Newnan, GA and the surrounding areas with access to a hyperbaric chamber. A benefit of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is that it increases blood oxygen levels and promotes healing. Discover why you may need to utilize a hyperbaric chamber.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: What Is It?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy boosts the body's natural healing process by exposing the patient to pure oxygen in a pressurized hyperbaric chamber. The air pressure in a hyperbaric chamber is two to three times higher than normal. Pure oxygen can be breathed under ordinary atmospheric pressure, but your lungs can capture much more oxygen when you are in a hyperbaric chamber. The extra oxygen in your blood promotes healing by fending off bacteria and stimulating the release of growth factors.

Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

To function correctly, your body's tissues require an adequate oxygen supply. If the tissue is injured, more oxygen is necessary for survival. The main benefit of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is that more oxygen is delivered to tissues that need it. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can treat a wide range of medical conditions. These are just some of the conditions for which hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be beneficial:

  • Decompression sickness

  • Severe anemia

  • Burns

  • Bubbles of air in your blood vessels

  • Death of tissues due to infection

  • Brain Injuries

What Happens in a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber?

Hyperbaric oxygen chambers have air pressure about two to three times higher than normal. During the first 10 minutes of treatment, the chamber will gradually increase its air pressure to reach the prescribed level. You will hear an audible sound as the chamber fills with air. Your ears will feel like they are under pressure, like when you fly and go up in altitude. Like when you fly, your ears may need to be cleared during compression. If you suffer from this pressure, you can equalize it by yawning, swallowing, or blowing through your nose while holding it closed. Most of your treatment time will likely be spent relaxing, reading, and sleeping. An average session lasts 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the doctor's recommendation. During the last 10 minutes of treatment, the chamber's pressure will gradually decrease. You may experience another popping sensation as a result. It is best not to hold your breath at this time.


Please contact us if you have any questions about hyperbaric oxygen therapy or our other treatments at Healthy Life Chiropractic.