The Versatility of Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is widely recognized as an alternative treatment strategy that uses the power of oxygen to effectively improve a large number of medical conditions.
It is required that the patient to be treated with HBOT enters a hyperbaric chamber, such as the Oxyhelp hyperbaric chamber, in which he breathes a high concentration of pure oxygen (100%) compressed under high pressure exceeding the normal atmospheric level.
In this article, we dive deep into the different types of hyperbaric chambers that are available and what each one has to offer.
Types, Construction, and Operation of Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers
In a nutshell, a hyperbaric chamber is similar to a pressurized vessel, and the two main factors that determine the pressure that exists during therapy are
- The disease underlying the symptoms that are to be treated.
- How’s the person doing with the therapy?
Generally, there are numerous types of hyperbaric oxygen chambers that are classified by their constructional materials. A model called hard shell doesn't support portability and the other is the soft designed inflatable chambers or the soft shell chambers are termed as mHBOT or mild hyperbaric chamber that uses an inflatable and soft design.
Besides, a chamber can be monoplace or multiplace, respectively. The term "monoplace" indicates that the chamber houses its patients one after the other, while "multiplace" model is designed to receive more numbers of individuals at once.
HBOT both the monoplace and multiplace chambers approved by regulating authorities are indicated for 14 such conditions, where HBOT can be used for on-labelling purposes. For more information on these conditions and the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, click here.
Therefore, in marked contrast, it has been mainly the mild hyperbaric chambers, receiving only FDA approval for Acute Mountain Sickness, a condition that’s characterized by breathing issues when you’re at a high altitude. Basically, any kind of chamber tries to achieve a specific range of targets and provide maximum effectiveness in any kind of treatment.
Monoplace Models
As mentioned earlier, a monoplace hyperbaric chamber accommodates only one patient at a time who breathes 100% pure oxygen for a pre-fixed duration.
In the procedure, the person can spend time in a reclining position or just sit down. Overall, physicians may advise you to load with something to read or listen to music before the process begins. Since you need to be there during the whole process in order to pass the time the best way is to be occupied with something. By doing this, you can also get rid of the anxiety that comes with having HBOT for the first time.
In some cases, where a child is subjected to HBOT, his guardian can accompany him inside the hyperbaric chamber.
The entire process is effectively supervised by a medical professional who is trained and monitors the patient inside the chamber.
Multiplace Models
Inside a multiplace hyperbaric chamber, patients are either made to sit on chairs or use recliners during the therapy. They usually breathe in oxygen via individual masks and a professional is present inside the chamber to assist them in case of any discomfort.
Nevertheless, for any occurrence of transmittable diseases, the multiplace hyperbaric chamber will not be recommended.
Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers (mHBOT)
Contradicting the bulky rigid design of conventional hyperbaric chambers, soft (or mild) models are cheaper as they use fabric and polyurethane rather than their sturdy structural material.
As you can imagine, some people are already skipping some preparations, which means they won’t be able to have the same air pressure level as in hard shell chambers.
The mild or soft variants of hyperbaric oxygen chambers are constructed out of canvas or polyurethane, which distinguishes them from conventional hyperbaric oxygen chambers.
As one can guess already, these chambers aren’t capable of reaching the same air pressure as steel chambers.
In order to work, they must compress ambient air, which is only known to contain 21% oxygen. This is in sharp contrast to the 100% oxygen that a patient breathes within a monoplace or multiplace HBOT chamber.
However, when utilized for routine household tasks, the soft models are just as useful.
Several personalities from the screen and entertainment industry, and also from sports, are said to use soft hyperbaric chambers at home to relieve conditions like insomnia and help them heal from injuries. They also reportedly use it to restore the capacity to function at baseline and ease emotions like stress, fatigue, anxiety, and depression.
The soft hyperbaric oxygen chamber could be another appropriate choice as a tool to alleviate the suffering of a very ill patient who is unable to move. In addition to this, a soft hyperbaric chamber is the best invention for those who do not have a medical condition that is taken care of by an on-label treatment and who have much to gain from using it.
In addition, it also reduces the rigidity of the treatment policy absolutely and spares you from having to catch a private clinic session that is actually expensive.
Conclusion
HBOT may be the most viable treatment alternative of today that not only encourages the proper utilization of oxygen but also effectively provides healing to various ailments.
Of course, the use of a hyperbaric chamber, such as the Oxyhelp hyperbaric chamber, has been continually a reason for some disapproval and heated debates over the years, but clinical trials have finally laid the argument to rest as they come up with scientific evidence of the effectiveness of the hyperbaric chamber.
When hyperbaric chambers are under discussion, one approach will not be suitable for everyone. However, typically the common preference can be a single-person chamber. Nonetheless, whenever a clinic member's medical diagnosis has apparent symptoms similar to those mentioned above, they can decide to pool two or multiple patients inside a multiplace chamber.
For those who are in a dire strait only and are in search of a home-based treatment, the option of an ambient or mild hyperbaric chamber is always there to consider. Even though the extensive purchase of hyperbaric chambers can be fairly pricey, there is also the good old alternative of rental, an option that could save you money in a pinch.
