PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions in the world. There are many known causes of PTSD, as well as many known treatments for the condition but no known “cure”.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a type of treatment used to treat carbon monoxide poisoning, gangrene, stubborn wounds, infections and most recently post-traumatic stress disorder.
Keep reading as we take you through the many things you should know about hyperbaric oxygen therapy and how it can help those suffering from PTSD.
How is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy used for PTSD?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, also called HBOT, is performed by placing the patient in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber that is pressurised up to 3 times the normal air pressure we typically experience.
We usually breathe air that is made up of approximately 21%; however, during hyperbaric oxygen therapy patients will be able to breathe in 100% oxygen. In doing so, HBOT helps improve the patients overall blood supply which is known to speed up the healing process by boosting healthy blood vessels.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for ptsd has been shown to treat the condition by increasing neuroplasticity (the ability to form new connections) within the brain and help heal the physical damage associated with PTSD (scarring of the brain tissue)
Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy effective?
Studies have shown that as many as 52% of patients who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy led to such a significant improvement in symptoms that they no longer met the threshold criteria for a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses after just 4 weeks of regular sessions.
This doesn’t mean it is an effective cure for all though. There are continuing studies centred not only around hyperbaric oxygen therapy, but many other treatments as well in the bid to treat, and possibly even cure post-traumatic stress disorder.
With the many studies on hyperbaric oxygen therapy, it may not be a good primary treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, but it most certainly has a place as a secondary or additional treatment to help lessen the more severe symptoms of PTSD.
Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Safe?
There have been many studies on hyperbaric oxygen therapy for not only the treatment of PTSD, but for many other ailments and diseases as well. There are still countless studies being done on this treatment method in order to improve its effectiveness.
Keeping that in mind, it is rather easy to say that hyperbaric oxygen therapy is indeed a safe and effective treatment option for many different ailments. Complications are incredibly rare, however, this treatment, like many others, does still have its own risks.
These are the known risks associated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:
Fluid build-up or rupturing of the middle ear
Sinus Damage
Changes in vision which may cause near-sightedness or myopia
Oxygen poisoning which may result in lung failure
Fluid build-up in the lungs
Seizures
Conclusion
In conclusion, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is generally a safe and effective method to use in the treatment of PTSD. There are known associated risks of HBOT so we recommend you first speak to your general physician before making any decisions.
