5 Key Hyperbaric Safety Tips Everyone Should Know Before Starting Therapy

What to consider before using a Hyperbaric Chamber

Hyperbaric therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized room or tube. This increases the amount of oxygen your blood can carry, which promotes healing. Here are five key safety tips to consider before starting hyperbaric therapy.

1. Consult with a healthcare professional: Ensure that hyperbaric therapy is safe for your specific health condition. If purchasing your own home chamber, you will need a prescription from your doctor before buying.
2. Follow guidelines for clothing and items: If doing HBOT in a high pressure, hard chamber, avoid wearing items that can create a spark in the hyperbaric chamber, like synthetic fabrics. If your therapy is inside a home hyperbaric chamber using mild pressures of 1.3 to 2 ATA, and if the chamber, itself is not filled up with 100 pure oxygen, it’s safe to dive with your own clothing. Such high pressure rules do not apply.
3. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water before your session to prevent dehydration.
4. Communicate any discomfort: Inform the staff immediately if you experience any discomfort or issues during the therapy. If inside your own home chamber, release the pressure until, again, comfortable. If this does not work, come out of your chamber.
5. Avoid smoking and alcohol: Both can reduce the effectiveness of hyperbaric therapy.
6. Do not dive if you have blocked ears. Also if you have any congestion from a cold or sinus infection, avoid diving until the condition is relieved.
7. If there is any shortness of breath or tightness in your chest come out of your chamber or make staff aware.
8. Safety for Children: HBOT is safe for children, including those with cerebral palsy (CP) or traumatic brain injuries (TBI). In some cases, injured tissue that is dormant may begin to tingle as it comes back to life. Oxygen can help restore nerve health.

Importance of hyperbaric safety

Hyperbaric safety is crucial when undergoing therapy to avoid any potential risks or complications. Here are a few essential safety tips to keep in mind before starting hyperbaric therapy:

1. Always remove any metal objects or jewelry before entering the hyperbaric chamber to prevent injury or burns.
2. Communicate any medical conditions or concerns with the hyperbaric staff to ensure the therapy is safe for you.
3. Make sure to follow the instructions provided by the hyperbaric technician strictly to ensure a safe and successful therapy session.
4. Avoid smoking or consuming alcohol before or during hyperbaric therapy, as these substances can increase the risk of complications.
5. Stay informed about the potential side effects and risks associated with hyperbaric therapy to be prepared and vigilant during the treatment.

Are hyperbaric chambers FDA approved?

There are only 3 chambers chamber brands that are FDA approved. Newtowne Hyperbarics, Summit to Sea and Oxyhealth are FDA approved hyperbaric chambers. Other brands are imported into the USA without FDA approval.

Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy FDA approved?

There are 13 conditions that have FDA approval for hyperbaric therapy. These conditions are: air or gas embolism, carbon monoxide poisoning, clostridial myositis and myonecrosis (gas gangrene), acute traumatic ischemia, decompression sickness, wound healing, anemia, intracranial abscess, necrotizing fasciitis, refractory osteomyelitis (infection in the bone), delayed radiation injury, compromised skin grafts and flaps, and thermal burns.

All other conditions are called ‘off-label conditions’. Such conditions include any brain or nerve condition or injury, infections like mold or Lyme’s Disease and auto-immune conditions like Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Fibromylagia, etc. Although these conditions have not been recognized by the FDA, there is a ton of anecdotal evidence of therapeutic and regenerative successes with these and other conditions.

Can I get oxygen poisoning from a hyperbaric chamber?

Oxygen poisoning, also called oxygen toxicity, is when you breathe in too much oxygen. It can result in coughing, throat irritation, chest pain, difficulty breathing, nausea and in severe cases even cause a collapsed lung or seizures. However, severe symptoms are extremely uncommon. Any potential oxygen only occurs under high pressures. There is very little chance of oxygen toxicity when using a mild pressure home chamber.

Are hyperbaric chambers dangerous?

Some hyperbaric chambers that are used in hospitals pressurize their cabin with fully concentrated oxygen *(Hyperbaric Central does not sell these chambers).* In these medical chambers, the gas can be flammable and must be medically supervised.

However, home chambers that deliver oxygen directly into your nose, using a cannula or mask do not create a pressurized oxygen build-up and are therefore are not flammable. Instead, these chambers are pressurized with ambient air, while all the the oxygen is administered through face mask. *(These are the type of chambers that Hyperbaric Central represents.)* If you are concerned with the risk of fire, these hyperbaric chambers are a great fit for you. 

Can a hyperbaric chamber catch fire?

As answered in the question above, some types of hyperbaric chambers pose a fire hazard. Those types of chambers are pressurized with medical-grade oxygen, which is highly flammable. For these types, it is possible for a hyperbaric chamber to catch fire. However, they are (or should be) medically supervised. For any fire to occur, there must be oxygen, fuel, and an ignition. 

Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy painful?

Usually no, but you will probably experience some level of sinus pressure. Do not be concerned, this is a normal reaction to pressure change.

If you’ve ever been on an airplane, you probably know the feeling! Your ears will likely pop due to the pressure. The ear pressure sensation decreases the more that you use your chamber.  You may also feel a slight pressure under your cheekbones. Sinus pressure build-up can be alievated with 2 simple steps – switch between popping your ears and swallowing. While popping your ears, hold your nose closed. Then tug your nose to the left and blow out, and finally to the right and blow. Chewing gum also helps reduce pressure!

Please note that if you pressurize your chamber too quickly, it is harder for your body to adjust to the pressure. Pressurizing chambers too quickly will *almost always* result in uncomfortable sinus pressure.

Can a hyperbaric chamber be over-pressurized, mechanically speaking, or are the devices designed to prevent this from happening?

Hyperbaric chambers are designed with pressurization in mind. They physically cannot surpass the designed capacity. You don’t need to worry about over-pressurization because hyperbaric chambers built to reach a certain ATA are not be able to exceed it that pressure. As an added note for comfort, hyperbaric chambers are only released to the public after meticulous testing and approval.