How about relieving severe pain or chronic injuries without turning to strict medications and undergoing painful surgeries? Does it sound like a dream?
Well, it’s possible today. Thanks to the advanced approaches of regenerative medicine!
Regenerative medicine is a great alternative to surgeries and high-dosage drugs. In Michigan, not only medical schools and biomedical engineering colleges but also medical experts from top universities are showing interest in utilizing regenerative medicines.
In recent years, hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Michigan has become a significant treatment approach in regenerative medicine. Most patients undergoing this therapy have reported a positive response.
Let’s understand more about regenerative medicine, and how hyperbaric oxygen therapy stands out as a hopeful approach in this innovative field.
Understanding Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine is an innovative and multidisciplinary field that focuses on new treatments and therapies to heal and restore damaged tissues and organs. Also, it can be defined as the process of regenerating human tissues, cells, and organs and reviving their natural functions.
Unlike conventional approaches that treat symptoms associated with tissue damage, regenerative medicine treats conditions by addressing their roots and restoring their function.
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a non-invasive treatment approach used to treat various health issues, varying from physical to neurological.
The therapy involves breathing pure oxygen inside an enclosed chamber called a hyperbaric chamber. Two types of hyperbaric chambers are used- monoplace and multiplace. Monoplace is used for single patients, while a multiplace hyperbaric chamber can fit more than one patient.
Inside a hyperbaric chamber, the air pressure is 2-3 times higher than normal atmospheric pressure at sea level. Due to this higher pressure, the therapy introduces more oxygen to the body, dissolving it into the blood and boosting the body’s healing abilities.
HBOT therapy is completely non-invasive, so, patients do not experience any pain during the therapy sessions. However, due to the elevated atmospheric pressure, some individuals may have discomfort inside the chamber. For instance, they might feel plugged, the same one experiences in an airplane or a mountaintop. Also during the therapy sessions, one may feel lightheaded, fatigued, or have a mild headache.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Michigan allows patients to undergo treatment without requiring prescribed medicines. However, when combined with conventional treatments, HBOT can speed up a recovery process.
Potentials of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as Regenerative Medicine
Oxygen is a critical element in our body, which is extremely important for healing wounds and other injuries. By supplying much more oxygen in the body, hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Michigan can treat a wide number of medical conditions.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved HBOT for treating-
- Anemia
- Air and gas bubbles in blood vessels
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Gas gangrene
- Burns
- Decompression sickness
- Hearing loss (that occurs suddenly)
- Infection of the skin and bone
- Skin graft flap at risk of tissue death
- Vision loss (due to blockage of blood flow)
- Radiation injury
- Crush injury
- Wounds (non-healing, diabetic foot ulcers)
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has shown positive results in treating some other conditions too. However, those are still under the FDA’s consideration.
Let’s understand how hyperbaric oxygen therapy works on different medical conditions.
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Tissue Death
The lack of blood flow is the primary reason for tissue death. Due to inflammation or other health issues, when a tissue cannot receive enough blood, it gets damaged and dies over time.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy prevents tissue death by improving blood circulation in the body. The therapy infuses oxygen at a higher pressure, forcing oxygen-rich blood to reach all tissues and organs in the body. It nourishes the damaged cells and tissues and promotes new cell generation.
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Inflammation
Hypoxia is a condition in which the body lacks sufficient oxygen. Inflammation often coincides with hypoxia.
An obstruction in blood flow deprives tissues of oxygen, leading to swelling and inflammation. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy effectively addresses this issue by delivering oxygen-rich plasma to the tissues starving for oxygen. As a result, it alleviates swelling, pain, and inflammation, offering relief and promoting healing.
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Bone Injuries
When a bone is injured, inflammation and fluid accumulate in the surrounding tissues. This swelling causes compression of blood vessels, disrupting the flow of oxygenated blood to the affected area and resulting in pain.
By facilitating the delivery of oxygen-rich blood to all tissues, hyperbaric oxygen therapy effectively reduces swelling and alleviates pain. In essence, it becomes a catalyst for accelerating the healing process of bones.
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Wounds
Wounds need oxygen for proper healing. The atmospheric air we breathe contains 21% of oxygen. Therefore, our body takes time to heal severe wounds.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy exposes the body to 100% oxygen, advancing wound healing. The therapy can treat wounds, including diabetic ulcers, lower leg ulcers, post-operation wounds, skin grafts, and skin flaps.
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Cognitive Disorders
Oxygen deficiency also affects brain tissues, impacting brain functions. A shortage of oxygen causes poor blood circulation and issues in the nervous system, leading to cognitive disorders.
Studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be a promising alternative to treat cognitive and neurological disorders, such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), stroke, and Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI). The therapy neutralizes oxidative stress, which is associated with brain injuries, such as cerebral ischemia.
Wrap Up
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Michigan and throughout the world has received massive applause as a promising avenue in the field of regenerative medicine.
Regenerative medicine focuses on restoring the body’s natural healing abilities. Hyperbaric chambers have been considered a wonderful tool for reducing inflammation and promoting tissue regeneration.
With further research continuing, hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the regenerative medicine field effectively shows promise for better patient outcomes and overall health.
