How hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps with brain injury?

How hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps with brain injury?

In this article, we explore how hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps with brain injury by referencing scientific studies around this subject.

Brain injuries can be devastating, leaving individuals with long-term cognitive, physical, and emotional challenges.

Traditional treatments for brain injuries often have limited effectiveness, leaving many individuals and their loved ones feeling frustrated and helpless.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy offers a promising solution for individuals with brain injuries. This non-invasive treatment has been shown to accelerate the healing process and improve outcomes for individuals with brain injuries. In this article, we will explore how hyperbaric oxygen therapy works and its potential benefits for those dealing with the effects of brain injuries.

How hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps with brain injury?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves the administration of pure oxygen at high atmospheric pressures.

hyperbaric oxygen chamber for home use
– A hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber for home use.

HBOT is typically administered in a specialized chamber, where the individual breathes pure oxygen at high atmospheric pressures for a set period of time. These hyperbaric oxygen chambers can be bought for home use or by visiting a hyperbaric oxygen therapy center.

The treatment is typically well-tolerated, and most individuals experience few if any side effects. However, HBOT is not suitable for everyone, and it is important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting treatment.

In the case of brain injuries now, HBOT is thought to improve outcomes by increasing the amount of oxygen delivered to the brain. This can help to reduce inflammation, stimulate the growth of new blood vessels, and promote the healing of damaged tissues.

HBOT has been shown to be effective in improving neurological function and cognitive abilities in individuals with traumatic brain injuries. It is believed that the high levels of oxygen delivered to the brain during HBOT can help to accelerate the healing process and improve outcomes for individuals with brain injuries.

HBOT research has shown many benefits for the human body, including longevity and anti-aging properties. Here’s a list with research based HBOT benefits.

Scientific Literature On HBOT and Brain Injury

When it comes to brain injuries, HBOT may be beneficial. Several studies have been done on HBOT and brain injury, showing that it can help reduce inflammation and promote healing in the brain, as well as reduce swelling and improve circulation in the brain, which can help with recovery from a brain injury.

Let’s check what the scientific community is saying about HBOT and brain injuries.

1. HBOT promotes brain cell growth

A study published in the scientific journal Medical Gas Research, has concluded that Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been shown to protect the brain in experiments with traumatic brain injury (TBI) models when given at pressures below 3 ATA.

The therapy has multiple effects, including improving oxygen and blood flow to the brain, reducing inflammation, and promoting brain cell growth. It also found that HBOT was associated with improved cognitive function in patients with traumatic brain injury.

2. HBOT promotes consciousness, cognitive function, and prognosis recovery

A research article published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Neurology concluded that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) can improve consciousness, cognitive function, and the overall outlook for patients with severe or moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). This is thought to be due to the therapy’s ability to reduce the volume of hematomas (collections of blood) in the brain, improve the brain’s electrical activity, and regulate the levels of certain proteins in the blood that are involved in brain function and healing.

In this study, patients who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) scored better on cognitive and neurological tests than those in the control group. These improved scores were seen 10 and 20 days after treatment, and were maintained six months after being discharged from the hospital. HBO treatment was also associated with changes in brain activity and the levels of certain proteins in the blood that are involved in brain function and healing. These results suggest that HBO may be an effective treatment for traumatic brain injury.

3. HBOT improves cognitive functioning after brain injury

Another study published in the journal Neural Regeneration Research, researchers examined the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on cognitive function in rats with traumatic brain injuries. The rats were treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy for 60 minutes per day for 1 or 2 weeks.

The results showed that this treatment improved the rats’ spatial learning and memory abilities, and also led to changes in the brain that were associated with improved cognitive function. These findings suggest that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be an effective treatment for cognitive impairments in people with traumatic brain injuries.

4. HBOT improves neurocognitive functions of post-stroke patients

In a retrospective analysis published in the scientific journal Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can improve the neurocognitive functions in patients who had stroke more than three months ago.

The study found that the treatment helped improve cognitive abilities in most patients. The type and location of the stroke did not affect the treatment’s effectiveness.

5. HBOT Treated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury of 39 United States Veterans

Between 2000 and 2020, the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center reported that 358,088 US service members experienced a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Veterans with mTBI often have higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, substance use disorder, anxiety, and suicide than healthy individuals. At present, there is no effective treatment for mTBI.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a treatment for mTBI. The study included 39 US veterans who were diagnosed with mTBI and treated with HBOT.

The treatment consisted of 40 sessions of breathing pure oxygen in a special chamber. The study found that HBOT improved brain perfusion and symptoms of mTBI in the participants.

The researchers concluded that HBOT may be a useful treatment for mTBI in US veterans.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) offers a promising treatment option for individuals with brain injuries. Many studies have found that HBOT can improve neurological function and cognitive abilities in individuals with traumatic brain injuries.

While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind these benefits and to determine the most effective protocols for using HBOT, the existing research suggests that HBOT has the potential to be a valuable tool in the treatment of brain injuries.

  1. Hu Q, Manaenko A, Xu T, Guo Z, Tang J, Zhang JH. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for traumatic brain injury: bench-to-bedside. Med Gas Res. 2016 Jul 11;6(2):102-110. doi: 10.4103/2045-9912.184720. PMID: 27867476; PMCID: PMC5110132.
  2. Chen Y, Wang L, You W, Huang F, Jiang Y, Sun L, Wang S, Liu S. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy promotes consciousness, cognitive function, and prognosis recovery in patients following traumatic brain injury through various pathways. Front Neurol. 2022 Aug 10;13:929386. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.929386. PMID: 36034283; PMCID: PMC9402226.
  3. Liu S, Shen G, Deng S, Wang X, Wu Q, Guo A. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves cognitive functioning after brain injury. Neural Regen Res. 2013 Dec 15;8(35):3334-43. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.35.008. PMID: 25206655; PMCID: PMC4145948.
  4. Hadanny A, Rittblat M, Bitterman M, May-Raz I, Suzin G, Boussi-Gross R, Zemel Y, Bechor Y, Catalogna M, Efrati S. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves neurocognitive functions of post-stroke patients – a retrospective analysis. Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2020;38(1):93-107. doi: 10.3233/RNN-190959. PMID: 31985478; PMCID: PMC7081098.
  5. Bested, Alison C., Arif M. Rana, Patrick Hardigan, Jerome Niyirora, Amanpreet Cheema, George Antony, Philip A. Defina, and Calixto Machado. 2022. “A Case Series of 39 United States Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy” Clinical and Translational Neuroscience 6, no. 3: 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/ctn6030021

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