There is 21% oxygen in the earth's atmosphere at sea level.
...how much oxygen is available at the top of Mt Everest?
If you guessed lower than 21%, you get the consolation prize..
The amount of oxygen at the top of Mt Everest is exactly the same as at sea level!
"21%"
Why then, can the human body not absorb this oxygen at high altitude?
The simple answer... Pressure.
As atmospheric pressure drops, the air pressure pushing the available 21% oxygen into your lungs also reduces. Your lungs are subjected to a reduced oxygen uptake the higher you climb.
At HyperbaricWorx, inside the chamber you breathe from a mask or hood system pure, medical quality oxygen in a increased pressurised environment (a decompression chamber). The resuting increase in pressure and breathing 100% oxygen (instead of 21%). The significantly increasedis oxygen is absorbed into the plasma and distributed throughout your body from your brain to the tip of your toes. Oxygen is absolutely essential for healing and assists in the resolution many major medical conditions as well as sustaining life itself.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, this elequant, unique treatment, using basic scientifically proven principles has been extensively researched, documented and used to treat patients worlwide for over 30 years.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
Oxygen is so obviously vital to our lives, which begs the question, why hasn’t there been a great deal more research applied to the therapeutic and adjunctive use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Every cell in our body requires oxygen both to survive and to function. We survive using the 21% oxygen from the air we breathe. Poor breathing technique, lack of exercise and air pollution all contribute to a fall in oxygen levels. Today the amount of oxygen in the air ranges from 19-21% but can fall in heavily industrialised regions and of course in our large inner cities.
As long ago as 1917 John Scott Haldane published an article in the British Medical Journal (1) identifying the need to give more oxygen to ensure that sufficient oxygen actually reaches the tissues, not just for metabolism but also for repair of injuries and diseases. He devised the first apparatus to administer 100% oxygen and pointed out that the dosage depends on barometric pressure i.e. the pressure of the atmosphere. Normal air pressure at sea level is 15 pounds per square inch (psi) and is the gravitational force that keeps us on the ground. It is also the pressure that forces the available oxygen (21%) into our lungs. Our Hyperbaric chambers increase the air pressure inside the chamber by 15 psi more than normal air pressure. The 100% oxygen you breathe inside the chamber is supplied from a mask or a hood system. This combination of extra pressure and 100% oxygen substantially improves the availability of oxygen throughout the whole body. In recent years definitive researched results have been accepted within the medical profession. The list of treatable indications is expanding and the availability of centres providing treatment using HBOT is also increasing.
Medicare, in the USA provides funding for 14 indications advised by the Undersea Hyperbaric Medicine Society (UHMS). The International Hyperbaric Medicine Association (IHMA) advises there are over 50 indications defined as “Off Label” applications for HBOT. The IHMA suggests “Informed Consent” is necessary for these treatments to be provided. There is limited funding for "Off Label" HBOT.
1. HBOT how does it work?
The air we breathe is composed of Oxygen (21%) and Nitrogen (79%). The 21% oxygen is normally carried throughout the body by the red blood cells (haemoglobin). In a hyperbaric chamber the air pressure is increased. The 100% oxygen supplied to the patient from a mask or hood system is forced into the plasma, (the liquid component in the blood) and becomes fully saturated with 100% oxygen. This improves the delivery and availability of 100% oxygen now diffusing from the circulation system throughout the body to assist in the repair of damaged compromised tissues, cells and organs caused by Ischemic / hypoxic events.
“This is not rocket science, it is a scientifically proven process”
Breathing Hyperbaric oxygen can also purge toxins including carbon monoxide from the body. Hyperbarics is a systemic treatment providing increased oxygen to the brain, lungs, heart and gut all at the same time (refer to the hyperbaric “Circle of Events” graphic below)……
HBOT is “A Unique Treatment”
2. Angiogenesis process (improving the vascular system)
Increasing the oxygen intake to the blood stream promotes the formation of new capillaries, tiny thin-walled blood vessels that improve blood flow. Re-vascularisation improves blood flow to tissues and organs when ischemic (lack of blood flow) events occur. HBOT increases blood flow and brings nutrients to the injured or effected area.
3. Vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels)
High pressure oxygen causes constriction of the blood vessels without reducing oxygenation or hypoxia. Vasoconstriction is known to reduce oedema in injured tissues, treat ischemia (decrease of oxygenated blood in the tissues) and the devastating results of burns.
4. Antibacterial activity
HBOT improves the immune systems response. It enhances the killing ability of white blood cells, which can then destroy germs, toxins and free radicals, (incomplete molecules with an uneven electrical charge). Bacteria and parasites in the gut can be classified into two types, aerobic, which are the beneficial varieties like lactobacillus acidophilus and which multiply in an oxygen rich environment. Anaerobic, which are the harmful types such as E Coli, staphylococcus and helicobacter pylori cannot survive in an oxygen-rich environment. As we are confronted with an increasing number of antibiotic resistant infections, HBOT provides a natural and safe alternative. HBOT also enhances the efficiency of many drugs such as antibiotics as well as complimentary medicines.
5. Oxygen and the inflammatory process
An article by Cramer that appeared in the magazine Nature in 2003 (8) described how cells, wherever they are situated in the body, suffer a similar reaction to low oxygen levels (hypoxia). Hypoxia produces inflammation. Cramer discovered hypoxia caused the immune system to release a protein that regulates the expression of at least 30 genes when oxygen levels are low. Both inflammation and the production of leukocytes (killer cells) are a response to low oxygen levels. HBOT addresses inflammation and the gut is a primary site. Using HBOT we can help to eradicate parasitic infections of the gut, address free radical damage, reduce inflammation and allow the gut to become more tolerant of previously allergenic food groups
6. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is the Breath for Life
Oxygen is life giving and life sustaining. As the complexities of human function continue to unravel, of one thing we are sure, without oxygen there is no life and no healing can take place. We are also beginning to learn that oxygen is a powerful intervention. HBOT is a systemic treatment providing more oxygen for the whole body from the brain to the tips of your toes providing a significant physiological increase in the amount of available oxygen to address the body’s response to the lack of oxygen (hypoxia). There are an increasing number of applications and conditions being treated, supported by the Undersea Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) and the International Hyperbaric Medical Association (IHMA).
7. Hyperbaric chambers description
Hyperbaric treatment can be provided in monoplace chambers or in multiplace chambers. Our monoplace chambers (single person) can be used as an adjunctive treatment for internationally researched conditions. The large complex hyperbaric multiplace chambers (treat more than one person) are situated in hospitals around the coast of Australia, treat diving accidents (DCS) and ICU emergency conditions.
8. What happens when you are in a hyperbaric chamber?
Pressurisation is not dangerous, however, there is a possibility of ear pain during this phase of the treatment and trained operators are on hand to ensure the simple transition to pressure is controlled. It has often been compared to the experience when flying or scuba diving. We advise holding the nose and swallowing (Valve Salva technique) or sucking on a boiled lolly for relief. Depressurisation has a similar response.
9. How safe is HBOT?
HBOT is safe, non-invasive and has no side effects or after effects.
REFERENCES
1.Haldane JS. The therapeutic administration of oxygen. BMJ 1917, 181-3
2. Rockswold GL, Ford SE, Anderson DC et al. Results of a prospective randomized trial for treatment of severely brain-injured patients with hyperbaric oxygen. Journal Neurosurg 1992, 76;929-34
3. Shandling AH, Ellestad MH, Hart GB et al. Hyperbaric oxygen and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction. Am Heart Journ 1997 134: 544-50
4. Fischer BH, Marks M, Reich T. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment of multiple sclerosis. N Engl Journ Med 1983, 308:181-6
5. Collet JP, Vanasse M, Marois p et al. Hyperbaric Oxygen for children with cerebral palsy. Lancet 2001, 357:582-6
6. Hammarlund C, Sundberg T. Hyperbaric Oxygen reduced size of chronic leg ulcers. Plast Reconsts Surg 1994, 93:829-33
7. Buchman AL, Fife C, Torres C, Smith L, Aristizbal J Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for severe ulcerative colitis. J Clin Gastroent 2001 33: 337-9
8. Cramer T et al. Oxygen and the Inflamatory Cell. Nature, 2003, 422: 675-6
9. Austin F Maintenance of infective Borrelia burgdorferi. Cardio Jour Microbiol 1993 39:1103-1
10. Zamboni WA, Roth AC , Russell RC, et al. The effect of acute hyperbaric oxygen therapy and axial pattern skin flap survival when administrated during and after total ischemia. J. Reconstr Microsurg 1989; 5:343-347
11. Marx RE, Saunders TR. Reconstruction and rehabilitation of cancer patients. In : Fonseca RJ, Davis WH, eds
Reconstruction preprosthetic oral and maxillofacial surgery, Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co 1985; 347-428
12. Cianci P, Petrone G etal. Salvage of the problem wound and potential amputation with wound care and adjunctive
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy; An economic analysis. J of Hyperbaric Medicine 1988; 3 (3):127-141
This is the "CIRCLE OF EVENTS" that happens during a hyperbaric treatment
