A New Look at an Old Treatment


According to the Mayo Clinic, an old treatment may have a new use. For years, divers have undergone a procedure known as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for a condition known popularly as "the bends". Now, it has been found that this treatment can be valuable in the treatment of many conditions, including COPD and other respiratory conditions.

COPD limits the amount of oxygen being absorbed by the body and therefore affects the ability to sustain strenuous physical activity and in later stages even light activity. Traditionally, patients with severe COPD are placed on supplemental oxygen, in the form of oxygen being delivered through a mask from a tank. Now, Mayo Clinic information suggests that placing the patient in a Hyperbaric Oxygen chamber can increase the ability of the body to utilize the oxygen.

In the therapy, a patient is placed in a chamber that looks like a cylinder, and the air pressure within the chamber is increased. The "air" within the chamber contains high concentrations of oxygen, and as the pressure increases, so does the absorption rate of the oxygen. These high concentrations of oxygen can have the effect of increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood supply, and therefore helping the functioning of the lungs.

The treatment also has benefits which go beyond the respiratory system, since it has been shown that it can reduce healing time in certain types of wounds and infections. It appears, from research studies, that the increased oxygen levels promote the growth of white blood cells which fight infections and promote healing within the body. Treatments usually last between one and two hours and while there are some minor side effects such as ear pressure, sinus pressure, visual changes, numb fingers and claustrophobia, these are a small price to pay for giving the body a theraputic "oxygen boost".

As with any treatment, a physician should be consulted and his instructions followed. The person considering this treatment should be aware that unproven claims may be made by some companies who commercially offer these treatments. In some cases, claims which resemble the old-time "Snake Oil" sales pitch may be made. This is not a "cure all" for everything from acne to zinc poisoning. It has a specific, medically documented purpose and a person needs to carefully evaluate the claims made, in consultation with their physician, before beginning this treatment.

The copyright of the article A New Look at an Old Treatment in Lung Disease is owned by Floyd Tilton . Permission to republish A New Look at an Old Treatment in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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