Treatment for First Time
a complete guide for your treatment
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that involves the breathing of 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber with increased ambient pressure.
In this article you will find measures required for your safety and general recommendations,
We also recommend to read of page of frequent asked questions by clicking below.
Treatment
The treatment as planned in the interview
The treatment is accompanied by follow-up and constant communication until graduation.
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The steps outlined above should be meet in order to access the treatment. It is not possible to receive a treatment without complying with them. For emergency cases, other procedures apply, and you can find them by clicking here.
Before your arrival
You required to remove any hair and skin care products, and those that contain petroleum-based or oil ingredients, as they can pose a fire hazard within the chamber.
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Do not wear makeup, skin creams, hair products or perfumes before your treatment.
Your healthcare team will offer clear instructions to ensure a safe and effective hyperbaric oxygen therapy session. Following their guidance is vital to your well-being throughout the treatment.
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Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before each session.
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Have breakfast in the morning before the treatment.
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Keep yourself well hydrated during the day.
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Almost anything can be taken into the chamber, including hard contact lenses and hearing aids.
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Smoking and the use of tobacco are strongly discouraged at least several hours before your session.
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You may bring a book to read or Sudoku type books with a pencil to entertain yourself, but newspapers, magazines, and plastic paper books are not allowed.
At your arrival
As part of your preparation for hyperbaric oxygen, you will be provided with a hospital clothes to wear instead of your regular clothing during the session.
For your safety, it's essential to note that certain items, such as lighters, electronics and battery-powered devices are strictly prohibited within the hyperbaric chamber.
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You must arrive at least 10-15 minutes before the time of your therapy.
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Remove your shoes at the entrance of the facility.
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Change your clothe, you can only wear the provided one, underwear can be kept if is of cotton or cotton/polyester fabric. Wool and silk are completely forbidden.
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Use provided socks also.
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Remove any metal accessory before to enter into the chamber.
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Electronic devices, telephones, watches or music players are strictly forbidden inside the chamber.
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If you have long hair, you must keep it tied and use a provided hair cap inside.
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Use the restroom prior to treatment.
During the treatment
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy means going inside an airtight container, in most of the cases together with other patients and it can be described in 3 main steps:
1. Compression:
The ambient pressure will be raised slowly higher than the atmospheric pressure between 1 bar and 1,8 bars, (this is called compression or pressurization) and this step will take between 5 and 15 minutes.
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The ambient will become warm for the first minutes while the air conditioning system adjust the comfort.
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You will not feel any change of pressure in your body.
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It is normal to feel a light change of pressure in your ears, for this you must perform any of the learned maneuvers (taught by the staff right before the first treatment) to compensate the pressure in your ears, you must not feel any pain. If you are not able to compensate, you must tell the staff.
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Sometimes it can be noisy, this is normal and ear protection devices are available for everyone.
2. Treatment Pressure:
Once in the correct pressure, you will put on a special comfortable mask and breath pure oxygen for 60 minutes, the total length of the treatment is around 1 hour and a half each time.
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For every 30 minutes of breathing oxygen there will be a pause of 5 minutes breathing air, for this you will remove your mask when the staff gives you the instruction.
3. Decompression:
The ambient pressure will be decreased slowly back to normal atmospheric pressure, (this is called decompression or de-pressurization) and this step will take between 5 and 15 minutes.
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The ambient will become colder for the first minutes while the heating system adjust the comfort.
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You will not feel any change of pressure in your body.
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It is rare to feel any light change of pressure in your ears, if this occurs, perform again the maneuvers to compensate the pressure in your ears, you must not feel any pain. If you are not able to compensate, you must tell the staff.
Note: The Hyperbaric or Dive physician will establish the specific pressure, time of pressurization and depressurization for the treatments, the breathing gas, and the times of gas breathing and pause, as well as the length and quantity of each treatment or cycles of treatments, this will vary depending on the disease and condition of the patient. The information in this page is general and with information purposes only.
After the treatment, consider the safety recommendations
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Do not travel by plane or mountains during the 24 hours after.
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Do not do any strong physical exercise or strength such as heavy Gym, weight lifting, strong cardio the following 4 hours after the treatment. Going for a walk, swim, physical therapy or rehabilitation after the session is permitted.
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Keep well hydrated.
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Avoid to drink alcohol.
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Avoid smoking in the next hours.
After the treatment is normal to feel
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Tired
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Sleepy
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Hungry
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Relaxed
Please let us know if
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Are taking any medications or if there have been any changes in your medications.
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Have a cold, fever or don't feel well.
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Are wearing a medication patch.
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Have a toothache or a temporary filling.
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You pregnant or has a suspicion of being pregnant.
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Have a history of epilepsy.
