Reviving the Brain: How HBOT Helps Concussion Recovery

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has shined as a promising treatment for the thousands
of patients suffering from Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), often referred to as a concussion.

Concussions often arise from great traumatic events like a sudden football injury or motor vehicle impact; but patients can sometimes present with concussions after trivial events as well--like a minor fall. Concussions are typically followed by headache or dizziness.  The associated severe neurological complication is often referred to as Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS).  Both conditions are improved with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in comfort, while inside a pressurized chamber, often while watching TV. Direct delivery of medical-grade oxygen (100% concentration) at therapeutic pressures allows an extreme enhancement of oxygen to all the body’s cells. Compare this to the meager partial pressure of oxygen we all typically experience at Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP) consisting at about 18 to 20% atmospheric oxygen concentration. These increased oxygen levels in the blood can promote healing in a variety of ways. In fact, neural activity is even enhanced due to increased oxygen availability in our blood. Why do we only use 5 to 10% of our brains? Because we only have enough oxygen to fuel a small part of our brain’s capacity. Our thinking ability is limited by our oxygen availability. Is that amazing or what?

The short and quick of it is that increasing the availability of oxygen can aid in the repair of damaged brain cells and, to some extent, enhance brain activity. HBOT achieves this is by raising the oxygen partial pressure in our blood. Repairing damage from TBI is the primary concern for most who are suffering post-incident, and lucky this is what Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy does!!!