Brain injuries are frightening; there’s no doubt about that. Treating the brain is challenging, and healing is unpredictable. What we do know, however, is that brain cells need oxygen to survive and to function properly. Brain trauma disrupts the flow of oxygen to the parts of the brain that have been damaged. And this can lead to cell damage and dysfunction.
Recent studies show that there can be positive outcomes from HBOT treatment for traumatic brain injury, toxic brain injuries, and decompression sickness. Its appeal is that it is non-invasive and benefits the whole body, not just the brain.
Hyperbaric chamber therapy delivers pressurized 100% oxygen directly to the blood cells, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, bones, and lymph nodes. This treatment not only speeds up the body’s healing process, but it also enhances the white blood cells’ ability to fight infections and promotes the development of new blood vessels. This means it can help build new connective tissue and can improve organ function.
How HBOT Helps Treat Brain Injuries
So let’s look at how HBOT treatment helps effectively treat brain injuries.
1) Increased Oxygenation
After the liver, the brain is the organ that needs the most oxygen in the body. Usually, it’s only red blood cells that carry oxygen through the blood, but hyperbaric chamber therapy makes it possible to pass concentrated oxygen needed for healing to your body. The oxygen diffuses directly into your body’s fluids and can pervade areas where circulation has become reduced due to injury.
2) Suppressed Inflammation and Swelling
Brain injuries often see high inflammation and swelling issues. This is often problematic because the skull can only endure so much pressure in its limited space. This can lead to swelling, circulation issues, and tissue damage. HBOT treatment subdues inflammation and lessens intracranial pressure, as oxygen helps reduce cytokine production, which triggers the production of inflammation.
3) Decrease in Apoptosis
The process of Apoptosis, which is where a cell dies, is often speeded up with brain injuries. Some research has shown that hyperbaric chamber therapy helps decrease apoptosis in brain injuries.
4) Promotion of New Cell Development
The body can’t make blood vessels without oxygen, and blood vessels transfer oxygen to the body, so with limited blood flow from an injury, the body becomes stuck in a bit of a loop. HBOT treatment can promote the new development of neurons and blood cells by forcing oxygen straight to the tissue.
The thinking behind using hyperbaric chamber therapy to treat brain injury is that giving the brain more oxygen can only help. But the complicated thing is that brain injuries vary in severity and not all brain damage results in tissue damage. There is, however, a growing number of recent studies that show the effectiveness of HBOT treatment on brain injury.
How R3 Wound Care & Hyperbarics Can Help
The wound care and hyperbaric medicine specialists at R3 will work to assess each patient and then recommend the right treatment plan for them based on their condition. As a patient, you’ll receive HBOT treatment in a private setting with the latest hyperbaric technology, where your treatment team will be monitoring you throughout the procedure. Each treatment session is easy, painless, and even relaxing.
Please note: Since brain injuries are not a covered indication by Medicare and insurance companies for HBOT therapy, this treatment most often would be an out of pocket expense.
Each of our eight clinic locations in the Texas area has state-of-the-art equipment, skilled wound care specialists, and a comfortable atmosphere. At R3 Wound Care & Hyperbarics, our primary function is wound care treatment, and we are independent of any hospital. You don’t even need a referral from a doctor to make an appointment or receive treatment (unless you have an HMO).
If you’d like to give HBOT for brain injury treatment a try, give us a call or request an appointment at the location nearest to you.