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Is a Hyperbaric Chamber Safe? A Closer Look

Is a Hyperbaric Chamber Safe? A Closer Look

If you’ve ever been scuba diving, you’ll be aware that this underwater activity comes with a risk of “the bends” or decompression sickness (DCS). If you do happen to fall prey to DCS, the leading treatment for this condition is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), which enables recompression via a pressurized hyperbaric chamber.

Although, this was only the original use of HBOT therapy. Since then, HBOT has been successful in treating a variety of other health conditions, from crush injuries to anemia.

But is using a hyperbaric chamber safe? Let’s take a look!

What Is a Hyperbaric Chamber?

Hyperbaric oxygen chambers are special spaces with air pressure two to three times higher than normal. These chambers allow your lungs to gather much more oxygen than normal. This oxygen then helps fight bacteria and promote healing.

Hyperbaric chambers are large tubes, usually with enough space to fit one person. Although, it is also possible to have HBOT in a pressurized room or multiplace chamber with the space to accommodate more than one patient, and sometimes a technician too.

HBOT offers the same benefits whether you are in an individual hyperbaric chamber or a multiplace chamber.

Is a Hyperbaric Chamber Safe?

The FDA has cleared the use of HBOT chambers as a safe and effective treatment for these conditions. Complications are rare when using a hyperbaric chamber.

That said, this treatment does carry some potential risks, mostly due to the high air pressure in the chamber. These risks include:

  • Temporary eye lens changes
  • Middle ear injuries such as leaking fluid
  • Blood sugar drops in diabetics treated with insulin
  • Lung collapse (barotrauma)
  • Seizures due to oxygen toxicity in your central nervous

Because of these risks, HBOT is not for everyone. For example, it’s not advisable for people who have had recent ear surgery or injury or certain types of lung disease.

And you should also bear in mind that an HBOT session may also leave you feeling fatigued and light-headed. To stay safe, you should always have someone drive you home after using a hyperbaric chamber.

Using a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber

If your healthcare provider recommends using a hyperbaric chamber, you can go to a hospital or facility to undergo treatment. During therapy, the high air pressure in the chamber will create a blocked sensation in your ears not unlike what you might feel when on an airplane. But you can soon relieve that feeling by yawning or swallowing.

HBOT sessions usually last two hours but this can depend on your condition. Likewise, the number of sessions you would need can vary. For example, HBOT can treat carbon monoxide poisoning in around three sessions while non-healing wounds usually need 40 sessions.

If you need ongoing HBOT treatment, you may choose to buy your own HBOT chamber. Prices vary depending on the size and condition of the chamber, but the experts at Newtowne Hyperbarics can advise you on the best oxygen chamber for your needs and budget.

A Closer Look at the Safety of Hyperbaric Chambers

If your healthcare provider recommends HBOT, you may have wondered, “is using a hyperbaric chamber safe?”

As this guide shows, not everyone can use hyperbaric oxygen chambers. And HBOT should only be for treatments sanctioned by the FDA. That said, it remains a low-risk, non-invasive therapy that can treat a variety of different disorders.

Want more advice and updates? Be sure to check out our other posts for all the latest on everything from teaching strategies to wedding planning!

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