Oxygen Therapy for Brain Injury

Posted by alvina on September 30th, 2021

Brain injuries can be particularly devastating for people to go through. This is why finding the best treatment options can be helpful in increasing your chances of recovery after these injuries. Oxygen therapy for brain injury has been an option growing in popularity in recent years, due to how effective this approach has been shown to be. Oxygen therapy for stroke recovery is just one way that you can benefit from oxygen therapy for brain damage. Read on to learn more about this treatment option.

How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Works for Brain Injuries

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a treatment approach where the patient lays in an enclosed chamber where they are breathing pure oxygen for up to 90 minutes. This chamber has pressurized air, which compresses oxygen molecules so that the body can absorb between 10 to 15 times more oxygen than you would in normal pressure. This is why hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be so effective in treating a wide variety of conditions.

Due to the success of this treatment in dealing with wound healing issues and decompression sickness, there is the belief that this can be a highly effective treatment for people with brain injuries.

So how does this treatment work for people with brain injuries? The brain has its own natural repair process called neuroplasticity. This process is where the brain will rewire neurons so that the healthy areas of the brain can function in place of the damaged parts of the brain. Neuroplasticity is a process that requires oxygen work. When part of the brain is injured, it doesn’t have the right amount of oxygen and leads to an issue referred to as hypoxia. With hypoxia, the healing process in the brain is slowed down and can lead to necrosis if left untreated. But, with the concentrated levels of oxygen in HBOT, your brain can get the oxygen that it needs to repair itself and avoid hypoxia.

Benefits of HBOT for Brain Injuries

Some benefits of HBOT for brain injuries include:

• Improves Cognition / Prevention of Secondary Injuries

Studies show an improvement in cognition as well as a reduction on symptoms after a concussion. This can be especially effective when used within hours of the brain injury.

• Improves Language Function / Sensation

A study was performed on stroke patients who received HBOT as part of their treatment plan. In these patients, it was noted that they did partially regain function and language skills.

• Improves Cerebral Blood Flow and Movement

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help you increase the blood flow in the brain. This can help to improve motor function and increasing brain activity in damaged areas.

Conclusion

Hyperbaric oxygen treatments are great treatment options for people who have suffered from brain injuries. Brain injuries can be potentially very life-altering, which is why finding an appropriate treatment option can help you find some improvements in your symptoms. The sooner that you can start this treatment, the more significant improvements that you will see in your condition.

Like it? Share it!


alvina

About the Author

alvina
Joined: March 22nd, 2017
Articles Posted: 259

More by this author