Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT ) involves breathing high-concentration oxygen via a facemask while inside a pressurised chamber. It's used in Ireland and internationally to support recovery from a number of recognised medical conditions. 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. You breathe high-concentration oxygen for 60 minutes at pressure, with about 10 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. Clients wear their own clothing; OxyGeneration recommends 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 your own doctor first. Where anything is flagged on the screening questionnaire, the team will ask you to get clearance from your 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 your first session, you 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].
