When your body has too few red blood cells, you may suffer from symptoms of anemia. Among many types of anemia, iron deficiency is the most common. When you suffer from extreme anemia, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be the answer.
At Westside Pain Specialists, we use hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for a wide range of applications, including anemia treatment. It’s a simple and painless procedure that involves breathing concentrated oxygen in a chamber with higher-than-normal air pressure.
Today we take a look at HBOT, including how it helps anemia and other conditions, and we want you to know what to expect if the treatment is recommended for you.
The use of hyperbaric chambers to treat illness gained prominence as a way to treat deep-sea divers who were suffering from decompression sickness. Later, it became a go-to remedy for carbon monoxide poisoning and for a wide range of other conditions.
HBOT has four characteristics that aid healing in general:
HBOT works by providing a 100% oxygen environment that’s up to three times higher than normal ambient air pressure. The combination of concentrated oxygen and increased air pressure help your body absorb oxygen more readily.
Because iron deficiency is the most common reason for anemia, women tend to be especially vulnerable due to heavy menstrual flows and sometimes during pregnancy. Anyone can suffer from low iron when they have bleeding disorders, including chronic nosebleeds.
People who have gastrointestinal conditions such as celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, diverticulitis, gastritis, or stomach ulcers may have problems absorbing dietary iron into their bodies, while vegans and vegetarians must compensate for the loss of iron through meat sources.
Other types of anemia include:
HBOT may be a treatment option when the underlying reason for your anemia is treated or under control.
Depending on your condition, HBOT treatment lasts between 45 minutes and five hours. You can relax, read, listen to music, or catch up on messages during your session, where you simply need to breathe deeply through the duration of your treatment.
You experience ear pressure as pressure increases at the start of your treatment and again as pressure lowers near the end. It’s the same effect as when you drive up and down mountains or fly in a pressurized airplane cabin.
Our physician, Dr. James Nassiri, reviews your condition before your session. Dr. Nassiri may also recommend HBOT for other conditions besides anemia. You shouldn’t have HBOT if you have a cold, some forms of lung disease, or if you’ve recently had ear surgery.
Call the nearest location of Westside Pain Specialists in Beverly Hills or Rancho Cucamonga, California, today to book your consultation with Dr. Nassiri.
