Oxygen has been an inevitable agent to the creatures since the ancient age. The human race has gone through a lot of evolution and has gained success in medical science, technology and every sphere related to human life. And with the advancement of time, oxygen has become the most versatile agent in medical science as well. Today, the use of oxygen in the hyperbaric oxygen therapy or HBOT has become really common for wound healing. This is nothing new. Since almost 40 years, oxygen is being used to treat wounds. And now, hyperbaric therapy wound healing has become the most effective and reliable treatment for countless people.
It has been established that hyperbaric oxygen therapy is very effective for diabetic foot wounds. According to the medical practitioners, around fifteen percent of all diabetes patients suffer from diabetic foot ulcers at a point of time. In general, 17 million people in the United States are victims of diabetes and one million cases are found to be diagnosed per year. Among these patients, almost 70 percent have diabetic neuropathies that can lead one to diabetic foot ulcers. Now let’s discuss how hyperbaric oxygen treatment can treat diabetic wounds or foot ulcers.
First of all, it is important to know what is HBOT. HBOT is a treatment which provides the patients 100 oxygen to inhale in a pressurized chamber. The treatment increases the level of oxygen in the blood. This therapy also supplies pure oxygen to the damaged tissues to make the healing faster. It can also provide the pharmacological doses of oxygen in order to heal the wounded tissues.
How does it work?
HBOT increases the saturation level of oxygen in the blood when the atmospheric pressure in the hyperbaric chamber is enhanced. This increase of oxygen influences the white blood cell activity and the development of tissues. Apart from these, it also induces capillary growth.
The procedure in detail:
There are two kinds of the hyperbaric chambers. In the Monoplace Chambers, only one patient can be treated at a time while there are some large hyperbaric chambers, called Multiplace Chambers, where a dozen of people can be treated at the same time. Now let’s have a look at how the procedure of hyperbaric therapy wound healing goes on:
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First of all, you will be asked to take off your clothing and accessories and wear a medical gown made of pure cotton.
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In a monoplace chamber, you will be instructed to lie on a table that is slided into the monoplace chamber, which is a 7 feet long plastic tube.
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Next, the technician will tell you to relax and breathe normally throughout the session. You can watch TV or have some favorite music to relax.
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The technician will seal the chamber and gradually fill it with pressurized oxygen. The pressure will be continuously increased up to 2.5 times the normal air pressure.
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During this time, you can experience some ear poppings and mild discomfort. Don’t panic! This is absolutely normal.
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The session can last from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the condition of your diabetic foot ulcer.
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At the end of the therapy, the technician will reduce the pressure slowly in the chamber.
After the session:
When your HBOT session is finished, you may feel a bit tired. This may continue for a short period of time and after that, you will feel better.
How far HBOT is beneficial for diabetic foot ulcers:
If diabetic foot ulcer is not treated at the right time, then it can lead you to amputation. The healing of this kind of wounds has improved a lot after the popularization of HBOT. It has become possible as the tissues around the ulcer are exposed to the oxygen that is supplied by HBOT. If you can see no sign of healing after one month of taking traditional treatment, you should not waste a single day and start taking HBOT as soon as possible.
However, HBOT should only be taken after consulting and seeking the advice of a qualified doctor. The treatment is conducted under the supervision of an authorized medical practitioner.
Final Thought:
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be regarded as a powerful treatment for chronic wounds and it treats the affected tissues in a number of ways. HBOT up-regulates the growth factors, regulates cytokines, helps angiogenesis and reduces oedema. Several studies have confirmed its positive impacts in healing diabetic foot ulcers. If you have suffered a lot for this particular wound, embrace hyperbaric therapy wound healing to get back to your normal life.
If you are in search of a reliable hyperbaric therapy wound healing provider, you can consider California Integrative Hyperbaric Center.
