Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy aims to promote healing and recovery. At 2nd Kings Integrative Health, advanced registered nurse practitioner Nichole Caroll, ARNP, offers onsite hyperbaric oxygen therapy for wound care, detoxification, pain management, and more. Call 2nd Kings Integrative Health in Homestead, Iowa, to schedule a hyperbaric oxygen therapy appointment, or book your visit online.

How does hyperbaric oxygen therapy promote healing?

During hyperbaric oxygen therapy, you sit or lie down inside a chamber filled with pure oxygen. The air pressure inside the chamber is two to three times greater than outside, allowing your lungs to gather more oxygen. 

This extra oxygen may bolster your immune system and trigger the production of growth factors and stem cells, which play an essential role in healing.

What health problems may benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

The providers at 2nd Kings Integrative Health use hyperbaric oxygen therapy for various health problems, including:

• Burns
• Brain abscesses
• Crush injuries
• Gangrene
• Diabetic wounds
• Radiation injuries
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Severe anemia

Sometimes, the team prescribes hyperbaric oxygen therapy for pain management. Exposure to high levels of oxygen may promote healing at the cellular level, reducing inflammation and pain associated with certain musculoskeletal conditions. 

How do I prepare for hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Preparing for hyperbaric oxygen therapy is easy. On the day of your appointment, don’t apply makeup or use skin or hair products that contain petroleum. 

Before you enter the hyperbaric oxygen chamber, you change out of your street clothes and into a hospital gown. 

Leave your cell phone and other battery-powered devices at home because they’re fire hazards in a high-oxygen environment.

How long does hyperbaric oxygen therapy take?

At 2nd Kings Integrative Health, hyperbaric oxygen therapy takes about two hours. During treatment, you sit or lie down and relax. 

Since the air inside the chamber contains two or three times more oxygen than the natural environment, all you have to do is breathe to experience the healing benefits. 

At the end of each treatment session, your provider checks your blood pressure and measures your pulse. They might also order blood testing if you have diabetes.

It’s normal to feel tired and hungry after hyperbaric oxygen therapy. However, you can return to work and other activities immediately afterward. 

Will I need more than one treatment session?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a cumulative treatment, meaning the results add up over time. Therefore, the 2nd Kings Integrative Health providers typically recommend patients undergo at least three treatment sessions.

Certain health problems, like diabetic ulcers and other slow-healing wounds, may require dozens of treatment sessions spaced over several weeks or months. 

Call 2nd Kings Integrative Health today to schedule a hyperbaric oxygen therapy appointment, or book your visit online.