Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT ), used internationally and in Ireland to support recovery from a number of recognized medical conditions, involving breathing high-concentration oxygen via a facemask while inside a pressurised chamber.
Many people are unsure what a session actually involves, so here's a walk-through of what to expect at OxyGeneration in Galway.
The chamber is a multi-place hard-shell chamber. Multi-place means several people can be treated at once, each breathing high-concentration oxygen through their own mask while seated comfortably.
A session runs at 2.0 ATA, the same pressure you would feel a few metres underwater. Clients breathe high-concentration oxygen for 60 minutes at pressure, with about ten minutes either side for gentle compression and decompression, so the full visit lasts 80 to 90 minutes.
Most clients read, rest or watch television throughout and wear their own clothing, which is recommended to be clean, loose-fitting cotton for comfort.
HBOT is not suitable for everyone, so before a first session every client completes a short screening questionnaire. Some of the questions catch people by surprise, for example, whether you have had recent chest or ear surgery.
The same pressure changes that mean people are advised to wait before flying or diving after these operations apply to HBOT as well, so it is simply a case of checking timing with a doctor first.
Where anything is flagged on the screening questionnaire, OxyGeneration will ask clients to get clearance from their doctor before starting sessions. Every session is monitored throughout by trained hyperbaric chamber operators.
The most common issue people notice is ear discomfort during pressure changes, much like on an aircraft.
Before the first session, clients arrive 45 minutes early for a mask fitting and a briefing on ear-clearing technique.
To find out more, contact OxyGeneration in Galway on 091 394 444 or email [email protected]
