How Technology Is Changing How We Treat HBOT
Many of the clinical uses of hyperbaric treatments conducted in fixed or portable hyperbaric chambers have been at pressures above 1.5 ATA. However, recently, some researchers have been using lower pressures of hyperbaric oxygen therapy with good results in some conditions. The abbreviation conventionally used for hyperbaric oxygen therapy is HBOT.
What actually happens in a portable hyperbaric chamber-?
HBOT increases the amount of oxygen that is carried in the plasma. Typically, hemoglobin which circulates in the blood stream carries almost all of the oxygen in our body to tissues.
Only 0.3% of oxygen is dissolved in the plasma which is the fluid in our blood vessels not counting the red cells, white cells and platelets. Hemoglobin is normally 97% saturated or full of
oxygen.
However, with HBOT, the amount of oxygen that is dissolved into the plasma can increase many fold. In fact, some animal studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen treatment can keep an animal alive without circulating red blood cells. There is an old paper called "Life without blood" that studied this in a pig. Therefore, in conditions where hypoxia (or decreased amount of oxygen) is present, such as with decreased blood flow, we would expect HBOT to help overcome this problem.
Interestingly, HBOT causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels which actually causes decreased blood flow. However, because it increases the amount of oxygen in plasma so much, the overall result is increased oxygen delivery to tissue. Because it causes decreased blood flow, hyperbaric oxygen treatment decreases swelling, including swelling in the brain, after injury or ischemia.
One of the properties of HBOT that is rarely discussed is the anti-inflammatory effect of HBOT. Several animal studies have revealed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy has potent anti-inflammatory tissue effects with equivalence to diclofenac 20 mg/kg noted in one study using HBOT at 2.4 ATA and 100% oxygen.
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment usually conducted in a portable hyperbaric chamber has also been shown to decrease markers of inflammation including IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-á in humans. So we get decreased blood flow, increased oxygenation, decreased swelling and decreased inflammation, all from one treatment.
How safe is HBOT?
There have been numerous studies in adults and children which have established the safety of HBOT. The most common side effect of HBOT is middle ear barotrauma where the ear drum gets irritated, bleeds or even ruptures. This occurs in approximately 2% of patients. The incidence of this is decreased with pseudoephedrine treatment before HBOT.
Less common side effects in descending order include sinus squeeze which is a sharp pain in the sinus, serous otitis which is fluid build-up behind the eardrum, claustrophobia, and reversible myopia which is nearsightedness. Seizures may occur infrequently in about 1-3 out of 10,000 patients. Higher pressures especially over 2-3 ATA have a higher incidence of side effects. We need to remember that oxygen is a drug. And just like any drug, it has beneficial effects at a certain dose, but too high of a dose can increase side effects.
What I Wish I Knew a Year Ago About Oxygen
Autism is a collective 5 disorders like Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Rett Syndrome and Autism which is otherwise called as Kenner's Syndrome or SLD Autism.
Disorders in Autism:
The following are the disorders that can be found in child with autism problem. They are :
* Difficulty in communicating
* Difficulty in learning
* Difficulty in understanding and social mingling
* Mania or Fear; and finally
* Difficulty in muddling through change
Conventional Mode of Treatment for Autism:
Usually doctors only treat children with autism problem and behavior related to autism and they don't fight for the root cause of the problem. The following are treatment for the disorder:
* Drugs like Risperdal which are Anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, stimulants, anti-convulsions, etc.
* Play Therapy
* Behavior Therapy
* Speech and Language Therapy
* Occupational Therapy
These treatments are exceptional but they only give a cover up on the symptoms rather than straight away treating the child.
Modern Treatment for Autism:
Now researches have found biomedical way of treating autism affected children. For example they say that if autism affected child has some deficiency related to nutrition then the symptoms can be reduced in such children by supplementing with that particular nutrient. Dr. Bryan Jepson MD has written three steps such as
Now we can see in detail how it is treated with biomedicines now-a-days.
* Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy- This is one of the safest therapies for autism affected children. In this therapy patients are involved in breathing in oxygen under high pressure in a special chamber called HBOT. This treatment helps the patient to come over respiratory problem and due to the oxygen supply the functioning of the organs are fine tuned and new body tissues are produced and reduces any infection.
* Chelation- Chelation is a detoxification process which takes away the heavy metals and toxins that are usually produced in autistic children's body.
* Diet- Diet is more essential part to change the symptoms of autism in children. Autistic child's diet should be changed and should be more Have a peek here nutritious and certain allergic foods like gluten and casein should be avoided and in certain cases should be totally eliminated as it is not good for brain's development.
* Supplements- As told a autistic Click for source child has got a lot of deficiencies. Certain supplements like Vitamins, amino acids, Omega 3, melatonin, etc should be added in their diet.
* Gut treatments- certain treatment called Gut treatment is used to reduce inflammation and increases the digestive enzymes which in turn help in good digestion in the body. If there is good digestion then the absorption in the nutrients will be good.
* Environment- Environment also plays a major role in a child's growth. So avoid using detergents and soaps and cleaners which can really give an impact on your child's health.
These are the biomedical treatments that are used by doctors as "Defeat Autism Now" which are now giving optimistic hope in parents of children who are affected by autism.
