OXYGEN THERAPY

Oxygen therapy is also called High Dose Oxygen Therapy (HDOT) or Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).

 

It involves breathing increased levels of oxygen at higher than normal atmospheric pressure. There is roughly 21% oxygen in the air that we normally breathe, with the remainder comprising 78% nitrogen and small amounts of other elements. When we inhale this air, the oxygen molecules attach to our red blood cells and are transported around the body.

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In HBOT, oxygen is increased to almost 100% and is breathed in through a mask while seated inside a pressurised chamber. The increased pressure allows the additional oxygen to saturate the blood. These extra oxygen molecules are not bound to red blood cells, so they are free to diffuse into the body tissue, which stimulates and accelerates healing.

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Oxygen therapy has many health benefits, such as cell growth and regeneration, detoxification, immune support, new capillary growth and improved neurological function. It reduces inflammation, which is the root cause of pain, discomfort and other symptoms. It also promotes the creation of new blood vessels, which enables continued healing after the treatment has finished, and stimulates the production of stem cells from bone marrow and neurologic tissue.

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Oxygen therapy can help people living with a range of neurological and other medical conditions. It can help to relieve symptoms associated with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson's, dementia, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, fibromyalgia and, increasingly, long Covid. It can also help to speed up recovery from infections, burns, wounds, broken bones and sports injuries.

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We are enormously proud that almost all of our member centres operate their own oxygen chambers to the highest standards of safety and regulation. Treatment usually consists of an initial course of daily one-hour sessions for the first month, followed by regular top-up sessions once a week.

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To find out more information and see if oxygen therapy is right for you, please contact your nearest centre.