Hyperbaric medicine is based on one drug: pure oxygen that is inhaled under a pressure higher than atmospheric, in special devices - hyperbaric chambers.
Oxygen is necessary for all life processes; it is the basic substance of life. Without food a person can survive 30 to 40 days, without water 3 to 4 days, and without oxygen only 3 to 4 minutes!
The cause or consequence of most diseases is the reduction or cessation of oxygen transport to the cells as end users and the consequent suffering of the cell, tissues, organs and the organism as a whole (hypoxia or anoxia). Timely application of oxygen under pressure (HBO) prevents damage to the cell and the organism as a whole caused by lack of oxygen and leads to healing, regeneration and complete recovery of the organism if the damage has already occurred.
The organic systems of the respiratory, heart, lungs and bloodstream have the basic function of delivering oxygen to the body. A healthy person's heart pumps almost 8,000 liters of blood a day, and the body consumes 368 liters of oxygen. Large consumers of oxygen are brain tissue, muscle tissue, digestive organs, etc.
The therapeutic effect of oxygen has been known since its "discovery" (Pristly and Lavoisier, around 1750). Since then, it has been used more than any therapeutic substrate known to man. It has been used in all hospitals around the world with the help of catheters, oxygen tents, masks, injections, incubators, local applications, and only in specialized institutions in special devices - hyperbaric chambers.
The side effects of oxygen are well studied and practically negligible. Due to such therapeutic characteristics, J. H. Jacobson attended the First International Congress on the Application of Hyperbaric Oxygen (Amsterdam, 1963). began his lecture with the words:
"The use of oxygen at pressures higher than atmospheric is an improvement that can be measured in importance with the introduction of blood transfusions and antibiotics in therapy"
How it works:
HBO diffusely increases the amount of oxygen in the cells at the expense of dissolved oxygen in the plasma, which corrects hypoxia and reduces the inflammatory response of tissues
HBO improves blood circulation, improves rheological properties (reduces plasma viscosity, increases erythrocyte membrane elasticity, reduces platelet and leukocyte aggregation) and accelerates neoangiogenesis (creation of new blood capillary networks)
HBO leads to a reduction in volume and faster solubility, and thus faster removal of gas bubbles from the body (which is extremely important in decompression sickness and gas embolism)
HBO increases the body's defenses (increases the phagocytic capacity of leukocytes), has a direct bacteriostatic and bactericidal action
HBO potentiates the action of certain antibiotics, chemotherapeutics, diuretics, antiarrhythmics and cytostatics
HBO has a strong antiedematous effect (reduction of swelling) causing vasoconstriction and faster recovery of intraendothelial blood vessel complexes
HBO raises the level of antioxidant defenses of the organism, which slows down the aging processes of cells
HBO normalizes energy, metabolic and functional processes in the cell
HBO increases the sensitivity of malignant cells to ionizing radiation and reduces the "side" effects of radiation
HBOT interferes with the production of toxic metabolites and promotes detoxification and unblocking of toxin-inactivated hemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochrome oxidase (significant in poisoning with CO (carbon monoxide), and other gases and vapors)
HBO activates hypoxia-disrupted biosynthetic and reparative processes and thus enables healing of chronic wounds
HBO accelerates the regeneration of nerve tissue, improves nerve conduction and reduces spasm
HBO improves psychophysical fitness and has an anti-stress effect, so it is also used by athletes for faster recovery after injuries and faster acquisition of psychophysical fitness.
Indications
Decompression sickness, gas embolism, gas gangrene, carbon monoxide poisoning, post-acute cerebral infarction, post-acute myocardial infarction, burns, arterial and venous diseases: atherosclerosis, Raynaud's and Burger's disease, thromboembolism, venous ulcers, autoimmune vasculitis, angina pectoris diseases, migraines and other vasomotor headaches, vascular impotence and vascular sterility, diabetes and complications of diabetes (vascular damage, gangrene and ischemia, visual impairment, kidney damage), acute psoriasis, slow-healing wounds, arterial and venous skin ulcers , soft tissues and radiation cystitis and enteritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, ulcerative and pseudomembranous colitis, viral, toxic and infectious hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma, multiple sclerosis, cranial facial nerve syndromes. , polyneuropathy, scleroderma, senile dementia and Parkinson's syndrome rom, osteomyelitis, acute deafness, Meniere's syndrome and vertigo of vascular origin, herpes simplex and zoster, acute retinal ischemia and retinal arteritis.
Patient preparation
Make the most of your stay in the hyperbaric chamber
When you are still at home
Wash your body and hair, then do not use any cosmetics (scents, creams, make-up, lipstick, hairspray and even nail polish).
Shave your beard and shorten your mustache so that it does not interfere with wearing an oronasal oxygen mask.
It is desirable to be dressed in 100% cotton clothes (without synthetics, silk or wool).
During HBO, omit foods that swell or smell unpleasant, as well as products that reduce mental capacity (alcohol, narcotics ...).
Due to possible sweating or other needs, be sure to bring a cotton handkerchief or a small towel.
To enter, bring room slippers or other footwear.
Before entering
Study the written instructions for the stay well.
Necessary prosthetic aids (eg pacemaker, heart valves, hearing aids, etc.) must have a certificate for functioning in hyperbaric conditions and must inform the staff about their existence.
Remove mobile dentures, eye lenses and other aids.
Any wounds should be covered only with dry sterile gauze or moistened with an aqueous solution of non-volatile and non-flammable or burning aids.
Empty your pockets and do not bring anything except cotton handkerchiefs or small towels, especially not flammable or explosive items, then those that are damaged under pressure (watches, bottles, fountain pens, text markers, mobile phones), chewing gum, candy or food.
During the stay
The mouth must be empty (no chewing gum or candy).
Sit in a certain place and do not touch the devices.
During pressure changes, patients start a conversation with a companion only if they have problems. When the pressure is stable, conversation with each other is allowed.
Only apply the oxygen breathing mask to the face, and the companion is obliged to fix it and open the inhale and exhale valves. Make sure that the mask fits well all the time while inhaling oxygen, because that is the only way you will really inhale pure oxygen and remove the exhaled gases outside.
In case of problems at any stage of therapy or even if you suspect that something is wrong, immediately raise your hand and wave your palm towards your companion to draw his attention to yourself. The same applies to the reporting of disorders before the beginning of each therapy, which must be reported to the medical staff.
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