FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and High Pressure Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

High Pressure Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is oxygen usually delivered at 2.0 -2.4 ata(a measure of pressure). It requires many more safety measures and is only available in a hospital or tightly controlled clinical setting. No body lotions, hair products etc. can be on your person when entering the chamber. You will be required to wear specialized 100% cotton clothing in the chamber. No jewelry etc. is allowed. No electronic devices are allowed. Most chambers are multi person. These chambers are most valuable for diabetic wound healing, Carbon Monoxide poisoning and of course Decompression Sickness(The Bends). Medical insurance covers certain specific conditions when treated with High Pressure Hyperbarics.

Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy refers to oxygen usually at a pressure of 1.3 or 1.5 ata. In the US, 1.3 ata is the max allowable for soft sided chambers. For most conditions, research is finding that mHBOT is just as effective as higher pressures, but it just may take longer to get results. Recent research seems to be finding that mHBOT is superior for all things neurological from TBI to Parkinsons to dementia although we don’t yet know why. Lower pressures may also be more therapeutic for Lyme Disease. With Mild Hyperbaric Therapy you can wear light weight clothing of any kind, lotions, hair products etc are fine(although we ask that nothing scented be worn in our chambers) and the vast majority of experts feel you can even take your phone or laptop in the chamber which is a big plus.  Please note, there has NEVER been an adverse event in a soft sided Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber!

Do I have to use supplemental oxygen in a Mild Hyperbaric Chamber?

No. The experts seem to be split on this. Hyperbaric Northwest does feel that there are benefits to supplementing your mHBOT healing with additional oxygen and we include an oxygen concentrator with our rentals but whether or not you use it is your choice.

Is mHBOT contraindicated for anyone?

The only absolute contraindication for mHBOT is pneumothorax and trust us, you’ll know if you have a pneumothorax.

If you have an upper respiratory infection or sinus infection we don’t recommend mHBOT until after you’re feeling better.

Claustrophobia can be a problem but we are finding those individuals can tolerate the vertical chambers.

Pregnancy of course is a contraindication.

Seizure disorders and uncontrolled diabetes may be contraindications.

There is a chance that if you have developing cataracts, HBOT could accelerate that process.

Cancer is a tricky subject. Certain chemotherapeutic drugs are contraindicated with mHBOT. If you are receiving chemotherapy, we recommend consulting with an oncologist who also has a working knowledge of Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. However, mHBOT seems to be very beneficial for healing and combatting the side effects after radiation therapy.

What happens if I am in the chamber and the power goes out?

That is very safe and simple to manage. Simply let the pressure out, unzip the chamber and exit. Your ears might feel stuffy for awhile but that is all you might experience.

Can I use the mHBOT chamber by myself?

Yes, it’s always easier to manage the zippers if a second person is available, but not necessary. Our founder always uses the chamber by herself.

Does medical insurance cover my mHBOT treatment?

Sadly, not yet. If you itemize medical expenses on your taxes, consult with your accountant about writing off the rental cost. And if you have a health care savings plan through your employer, you can use pre tax dollars for your chamber rental.

How long before I see benefits?

Ah, good question. That is dependent on so many factors that there is not a concise answer. The variables include what condition you are treating, how often and for how long you are diving, how long you have suffered with your particular condition and your overall lifestyle, etc. We can’t emphasize enough how important your general lifestyle is to getting the most out of your mHBOT rental. For example if the other 22 hours a day, you eat fast food, smoke cigarettes, over imbibe in alcoholic beverages and don’t get adequate sleep you will receive little to no benefit from your mHBOT chamber. Trust us, we’ve  seen this first hand!

With some conditions you will notice an improvement after only 10 dives. With others, it takes 20,30, even 40 dives to see a change. It’s also important to note that with some conditions you may feel worse before you feel better. This often happens with Lyme disease for example. It’s called detoxing. It’s always a good idea to have a health care provider that can help you with this journey and can recommend supportive care like supplementation.