Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Autism
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been utilized to treat Autism in many countries throughout the globe. The rationale behind using hyperbaric for Autism is that the treatments increase cerebral blood flow and thus oxygen is delivered to areas of the brain, which are thought to be oxygen deficient. Greater amounts of blood and oxygen begin to stimulate cerebral tissues and aid in recovery of idling neurons. HBOT also reduces excess fluids and swelling of brain tissues which aid in neurological function and a less confused state in Autistics.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is also used as a complementary therapy for the treatment of heavy metal detox for such materials as mercury. Hyperbaric assists in the metabolism of heavy metal removal. It can help a patient counteract the effects of heavy metal poisoning and helps body deal with toxins even as noxious as cyanide. It is often used in conjunction with chelation and other detox procedures to help support the body to deal with the impact commonly seen in the removal of heavy metals, mercury, toxins, and other contaminants.
Worldwide, medical researchers are discovering promising results with the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on Autism patients.
In one study, involving brain functionality and recovery for children with chemical exposures exhibiting PDD disorders, hyperbaric oxygen therapy was found to be remarkably effective. Treatments consisted of 10 sessions in a hyperbaric chamber at 1.3 ATA, for one hour per day, five consecutive days for two weeks. To increase validity to the study results, SPECT scans of each patient's brain were taken before and after the hyperbaric treatments to quantify physical changes to the brain tissue. The SPECT scan showed an increase to blood flow and oxygen to the temporal lobe. SPECT scans of patients taken before hyperbaric oxygen treatments showed a significant amount of dormant activity while scans taken of patient brains after hyperbaric oxygen treatment indicated an increase in brain activity and blood flow. After hyperbaric therapy, dormant brain regions were replaced with greater functioning tissues and represented a scan more similar to a healthy individual.
Scientists have varying opinions on why hyperbaric oxygen therapy is so successful as a treatment for the condition. Some theories suggest that the brain in some persons with Autism, as well as Cerebral Palsy and other neurological disorders, is lacking oxygen and in a dormant or sleeping state due to lack of blood flow. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy forces oxygen into tissues throughout the body including brain tissues and fluid, resulting in a re-awakening of dormant areas of the brain. Other theories state that excessive swelling in the brain results in a lack of oxygen causing cerebral impairment that can cause behavioral problems, confusion, etc. Oxygen is forced into these damaged areas, through the pressurization, which alleviates brain swelling by constricting blood vessels. In addition, the hyperbaric oxygen chamber is thought to provide an optimal environment to assist in the regeneration of brain tissue.
Patient Medical makes no claims as to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy efficacy for any indication, other than the thirteen indications approved by the FDA. Information within this site is provided for informational and educational purposes only. This information is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your personal physician or any other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider.
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Burns
Serious burns which can be caused by chemical and electricity as well as by fire, can be among the most painful of injuries; and among the most difficult to treat. There are burn victims who don't need skin transplants but who do need medical assistance. Long- term physical and emotional disabilities occur when burns go on to heal leaving tissue scars. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can help burn patients heal faster with fewer complications and less scarring.
Peak damage occurs within 3-4 days after the initial burn and can be up to 10 times worse than the initial burn injury. These injuries can result in life long difficulties, physical limitation, and significant disfigurement as the body heals from the injury.
Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been shown to limit the progression of the burn injury, reduce swelling, in some cases reduce the need for surgical intervention, diminish lung damage and shorten the time of hospitalization. When burn victims are not hospitalized with non-life threatening burns, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can be carried out at private facilities when first or second-degree burns are involved.
In order for a burn to heal properly, it is very important for the burned area to develop new tissue cover quickly. Viable cells from healthy areas migrate into the wound and start to reproduce given the appropriate conditions with help from Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Oxygen is very important to wound healing. When the environment of the fibroblast has an oxygen tension of less than 10mmHg, the cell can divide, but it can no longer synthesize collagen. It cannot migrate to where it is needed for healing. When the oxygen tension is increased, the fibroblast can again carry out the wound healing function. The collagen produced by these cells for a protective fibrous matrix and new capillaries grow into this matrix. Wound healing is a dynamic process and an adequate oxygen tension is mandatory for this process to proceed successfully.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy inhibits wound infection by helping to support the body's infection fighting white blood cells and by helping to increase the effectiveness of any antibiotics that are used when an infection occurs. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy aids the survival of skin grafts and flaps when it is necessary to use them in more severe burns.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a useful part of an overall treatment program for burns, whether the burn is serious or not. Prevention of scarring especially facial scarring may be cosmetic in some cases but victims need not carry the physical scar as well as the emotional scar burns leave with them. By increasing the levels of oxygen in the tissues, reducing inflammation and swelling, and improving white blood cell function, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can reduce the risk of additional tissue loss and infection. In addition to halting the progress of burn damage, these therapies can also potentially enhance healing and recovery when used in conjunction with other burn treatments, such as skin grafts.
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Article Last Updated: 06/26/2009