How Effective is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Treating Long COVID symptoms?
A Promising yet Uncertain Treatment for Long COVID Symptoms
Fact Checked
Research findings suggest that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) shows promise in treating long-term symptoms of COVID-19.
Studies have shown that post-COVID-19 patients with ongoing symptoms, like heart problems, saw improvements in heart function and overall heart strain after receiving HBOT. [1]
Additionally, HBOT has been associated with significant improvements in quality of life, endurance, strength, spirometric parameters, anion gap, lactate levels, working memory, and attention in patients with post-COVID conditions. [2] [3]
These findings collectively suggest that HBOT may be a beneficial therapeutic option for addressing the lingering symptoms of COVID-19.
Long COVID has left millions grappling with lingering symptoms long after the initial infection subsides. Lynette Milakovich, a yoga teacher from The Villages, Florida, experienced this firsthand. After almost two years and over $20,000 spent on ineffective treatments, she finally found relief through hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
In this article, we will explore the potential of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as a treatment for Long COVID symptoms through personal stories like Lynette’s, expert opinions and current research findings to explore how effective HBOT is in treating long COVID virus symptoms..
By the end of this post, you’ll have a clearer understanding of whether HBOT could be an effective option for treating Long COVID symptoms.
A Glimpse into Long COVID
Long COVID affects an estimated 65 million people worldwide. [1]
Characterized by a wide range of symptoms that can last for weeks or even years post-infection, it primarily impacts the brain and central nervous system (CNS). Symptoms can include cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, neuropathy, tinnitus, tachycardia among others.
Lynette Milakovich suffered from many of these debilitating symptoms before discovering HBOT. She experienced total body neuropathy, severe mental health issues including suicidal ideations and PTSD. Her journey highlights the struggle many face in finding effective treatment for long COVID.
Here’s Lynette’s story:
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing 100% pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. This process increases oxygen absorption into tissues and supports brain injury recovery by triggering neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to repair itself.
Dr. Shai Efrati of Aviv Scientific emphasizes that HBOT is currently the only clinically proven treatment for long COVID-related brain damage as told Pharmacy Times.
It helps repair damaged neurons by enhancing blood vessel growth and stem cell production in the brain.
Personal Stories: Real-Life Impact
Lynette Milakovich’s story exemplifies how transformative HBOT can be for those suffering from long COVID:
“I have full cognition back… no more tremors or convulsions,” says Lynette after completing her HBOT sessions at Aviv Clinics.
Lynette Milakovich
Another patient from Lake Nona, Florida—Danielle Gillan—described her experience as a “total game changer.” After three months of therapy to address memory loss and blurred vision among other issues:
“It felt like I was almost human again,” Danielle shared with CNBC Make It.
Danielle Gillan
These personal accounts underscore the potential life-changing benefits of HBOT for some individuals battling long-term effects of COVID-19.
Expert Commentary: The Science Behind HBOT
Experts agree that while anecdotal evidence supports its efficacy; more extensive research is needed to fully understand why it works so well against certain symptoms but not others—and whether there are any unforeseen consequences down the line.
Dr. Venita Chandra from Stanford University cautions against viewing it as a universal remedy due to limited data on its effectiveness across different patient profiles:
“We’re using a treatment that’s complex…to treat a medical condition that’s also new,” she explains.
Dr. Venita Chandra
A study conducted in 2022 by Tel Aviv University examined 72 patients with cognitive symptoms lasting at least three months post-COVID infection:
- Half underwent two months’ worth of hyperbaric sessions
- Reported reduced brain fog
- Improved memory & attention span
- Increased energy levels & decreased pain
However small sample sizes limit these findings’ generalizability until larger-scale studies confirm them conclusively according Dr. Lucy Horton who currently works at Pfizer and founded UC San Diego Health’s Long Covid Clinic:
“The only way forward involves bigger broader studies.”
Dr. Lucy Horton
Current Research Findings on HBOT and Long Covid
Here’s what the current research on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Long Covid says:
- A 2023 randomized controlled trial published in Nature’s Scientific Reports found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) improved heart function in post-COVID-19 patients with ongoing symptoms. The study showed that HBOT significantly increased global longitudinal strain (GLS), a measure of heart muscle function, compared to a placebo treatment. This suggests HBOT could help recover heart function in these patients, but more research is needed for long-term effects and patient selection.
- A 2021, small study published in the journal “Clinical Medicine” evaluated hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for treating long COVID, particularly fatigue. Ten patients underwent 10 HBOT sessions over 12 days. Significant improvements were observed in fatigue levels and cognitive functions, including attention and information processing. The results suggest that HBOT could be beneficial for those suffering from long COVID-related fatigue, offering a potential new treatment option.
- Another 2022 Polish study examined hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for treating moderate-to-severe COVID-19. Twenty-eight patients were split into control and HBOT groups, with HBOT patients undergoing five sessions. Results showed no deaths in the HBOT group versus three in the control group. HBOT reduced inflammation markers and improved T cell responses without adverse events, suggesting it could be a safe and effective addition to standard COVID-19 treatments.
- An observational study published in 2022 in the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine journal found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2) improved symptoms and quality of life for six patients with long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms. Five patients returned to pre-infection levels, while one showed significant improvement.
- A 2023 Austrian observational study examined hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) for long COVID syndrome. Seventy patients received 10 HBO sessions over two weeks. Researchers measured health improvements before, immediately after, and three months post-treatment using questionnaires and physical tests. Results showed significant improvements in physical functioning, energy levels, emotional well-being, and pain relief. The study suggests HBO as a promising treatment but calls for further research to confirm these findings.
- A 2021 Russian observational study examined hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) for COVID-19 recovery. Forty-five patients were divided into three groups based on pneumonia severity. They received HBO as part of outpatient rehabilitation. Results showed improvements in walking distance, reduced inflammation markers, lower norepinephrine levels, and decreased oxidative stress across all groups. The study suggests HBO benefits functional recovery and reduces inflammation and stress in COVID-19 convalescents.
Financial Barriers: Cost vs Benefit Analysis
The cost of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a significant barrier for many long COVID sufferers. Clinics like Aviv charge between $36,000 to $51,000 for 40 to 60 sessions. This expense is particularly challenging given that insurance companies do not cover HBOT for long COVID since it lacks FDA approval.
According to CNBC’s Make It, Nora Lieberman, a gallery coordinator from Washington D.C., faced this financial hurdle firsthand. She paid nearly $3,000 for ten sessions at Restore Hyper Wellness in Richmond, Virginia. Although she found the treatment “reenergizing,” she couldn’t afford the recommended number of sessions and saw her symptoms return after halting the therapy.
“For many [COVID] long haulers, including myself, financial freedom is gone because we can’t work full-time,” Nora explains.
Nora Lieberman
Some clinics offer reduced-cost programs to make HBOT more accessible. Aviv provides discounted rates based on financial need through an application process requiring tax and income documents.
However, widespread affordability will likely only come with insurance coverage—a change dependent on larger-scale studies proving HBOT’s efficacy and safety.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy offers multiple benefits—not only for long COVID treatment—but also for anti-aging, dementia, skin health, erectile dysfunction, cancer, Lyme disease, and many more conditions. It is only logical that someone willing to add HBOT to their health regimen might consider buying a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber for home use.
There are many models on the market with prices ranging from around $8,000 to $25,000 USD. You’ll make your money back in 3-4 months. If you ever want to get rid of it, you can also sell it on aftermarkets and get at least 50% of your investment back.
The Need for More Research
While preliminary studies show promising results, experts agree that more extensive research is essential to validate HBOT as a reliable treatment for long COVID. Dr. Jonathan Whiteson from NYU Langone Health emphasizes the importance of positive data emerging from larger-scale studies before considering FDA approval:
“This is something we are pushing towards,” says an Aviv spokesperson.
Although the study from Tel Aviv University I’ve mentioned earlier showed significant improvements in cognitive function among those who underwent HBOT compared to a control group, researchers acknowledged limitations such as small sample sizes and short observation periods post-treatment.
Dr. Lucy Horton highlights that understanding which underlying physiological conditions drive different manifestations of long COVID will help tailor treatments more effectively:
Ongoing research aims to address these gaps but there’s no concrete timeline yet for when conclusive data will be available.
Final Words
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy offers hope for some individuals suffering from long COVID symptoms by improving neuroplasticity and reducing brain damage caused by the virus—transforming lives like Lynette Milakovich’s who now enjoys full cognition without tremors or convulsions:
“I’m better than I was before I had long COVID,” Lynette shares joyfully.
Lynette Milakovich
These personal stories show the potential of HBOT to provide significant relief. However, they also highlight the urgent need for more research to validate HBOT’s effectiveness across different patient profiles. Addressing its high costs is essential to make it accessible to more people affected by the pandemic.
Establishing HBOT as a mainstream treatment requires overcoming financial barriers and conducting larger studies to confirm its safety and efficacy.
As researchers continue their work, patients like Lynette Milakovich serve as beacons of hope, showing that recovery is possible even after severe long COVID symptoms.
For now, hyperbaric oxygen therapy remains a promising but expensive option that could transform lives if made more accessible through insurance coverage and further scientific validation. Our collective goal is clear: finding effective treatments to help those affected reclaim their health and well-being.
By the way, I suggest you check Lynette’s account on Facebook. She shares some very interesting things about her experience with Long Covid and after taking two Pfizer shots.
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