What is Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy (HBOT)?
Hyperbaric oxygenation therapy is a prescribed medical treatment in which a patient breathes pure oxygen at a greater than normal atmospheric pressure. This treatment allows an increased amount of oxygen to circulate in the body. The word “hyperbaric” is from the Greek root “hyper” meaning “over, above” and “baro” meaning “weight.” Therefore, hyperbaric is “above the (normal) weight” of the atmosphere. How is a treatment given? A patient sits or lies in a sealed chamber while its atmospheric pressure is increased to a therapeutic level. In a monoplace (single-person) chamber, the vessel is pressurized with pure oxygen; in a multiplace (many persons) chamber, its interior is pressurized with room air and oxygen masks or hoods are distributed to patients for their therapy.
