Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (pressure chamber)
pressure chamber · hyperbaric oxygen therapy · HBOT · oxygen chamber
You breathe oxygen in a special chamber with raised pressure. This helps oxygen reach your tissues better.
For wounds that heal poorly, diabetic foot, carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness and after radiation - as prescribed by a doctor.
⏱ Duration: a session usually takes 60 to 120 minutes; a course is from a few to dozens of sessions
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Clothing. Cotton clothes are usually provided. Synthetic fabric can spark.
- Not allowed. You must not take a phone, lighter, electronics, oil-based cosmetics or hairspray into the chamber.
- Food. Have a light meal before the session. Do not smoke - it reduces the benefit.
What to bring
- Your referral
- Your ID
- A list of your medicines
How it goes
- You change into cotton clothes
- You enter the chamber and lie or sit down
- The pressure is raised slowly - your ears feel blocked, like on a plane
- You breathe oxygen through a mask or hood; in a single-person chamber the whole chamber is filled with oxygen
- Staff are in contact with you the whole time
- At the end the pressure is lowered slowly
What you'll feel
- Blocked ears as the pressure rises - swallowing or yawning helps
- It may be warm in the chamber
- It is usually not painful
Afterwards
- You can go back to your usual activities right away
- Sometimes mild tiredness
- Come to all the sessions of the course
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Severe ear pain or discharge from the ear
- A change in vision that does not go away
- Seizures, severe shortness of breath or chest pain - call your local emergency number
Common questions
Is it like on a plane?
Similar: your ears block when the pressure changes. Swallow or yawn and it gets easier.
Why can't I take my phone?
There is a lot of oxygen in the chamber. Any spark is dangerous, so electronics stay outside.