Hyperbaric oxygen therapy gives remarkable improvements for erectile dysfunction

A prospective study analyzing 30 men who were diagnosed with ED for more than 6 months were treated with a course of 40 hyperbaric oxygen (HBOT) sessions. The results of this study showed remarkable benefits, even for those men who previously were unsuccessful in achieving erections! After HBOT, 63% of the men had none to mild erectile dysfunction. In addition, both penetration and maintenance of erections improved significantly — 24 of the 30 men (80%) reported improved erections. Furthermore, 7 participants who agreed to undergo penile perfusion MRI pre and post HBOT allowed the researchers to conclude: “HBOT reverses the basic common pathophysiology, atherosclerosis and decreased penile perfusion, responsible for most cases of ED” <view study>

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves male impotence

43 patients participated in a study for erectile dysfunction. The participants underwent a series of hyperbaric oxygen sessions for a total of 9 months. The collected data was very positive and the results of this study confirmed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy helped to improve erectile function. In addition, they measured both total and free serum testosterone levels and the data did not show any effect on testosterone levels. This would leave us to believe that the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen are not related to hormonal fluctuations occurring from this procedure, but instead other physiological benefits from the hyperbaric administration <view study>

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy shows benefit for pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic progressive lung disease that is becoming more prevalent and poses medical challenges due to the limited therapeutic options available. The rise in the aging process along with the rise in pulmonary complications from long COVID has led to new research studies to help identify potential treatment options. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is emerging as one of them, showing good promise with clinical outcome measures.

To demonstrate HBOT’s influence on this disease, researchers in this study first exposed a group of rats to bleomycin (a chemotherapeutic agent that is known to cause acute pulmonary toxicity) directly into the trachea. This is to induce pulmonary fibrosis. They waited 7 days and then treated the rats with 14 days of HBOT at 2.5 ATA&nbsp; for 90 minutes.

The rats that were treated with this 2-week course of HBOT demonstrated a marked reduction in TGF-β, which is normally elevated and plays an active role in the development of fibrosis.

The findings in this study support the use of HBOT as a potential “life-changing” therapy for patients with pulmonary fibrosis <view study>

Preconditioning the brain with hyperbaric oxygen therapy before stroke/TBI to reduce the damage

Currently, there is a great deal of focus and attention being put on hyperbaric oxygen therapy, due to the promising results seen in clinical research and the potential application that this can have for those individuals who have suffered a stroke or TBI. Now, there is strong evidence supporting the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy BEFORE brain trauma or injury, by preconditioning the brain with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

This study shows that HBOT preconditioning stands as a robust prophylactic treatment for sequestration of inflammation inherent in stroke and TBI. Though we can’t predict when the brain will be under traumatic stress (unless it’s a planned surgical procedure), hyperbaric oxygen may become one of the best ways to protect our brain from future injuries. The following groups of individuals would be the ones that would most likely benefit:

• Athletes and contact sports affect the head

• Patients undergoing planned brain surgery

• High-risk stroke patients

• Those who are at risk for neurodegenerative conditions

• Elderly

The future holds bright for the application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for being part of both the treatment of brain trauma and the prevention of the severity of damage that can subsequently occur <view study>

Hyperbaric oxygen restores mitochondrial function

A 14 day course of hyperbaric pretreatment for 14 days (once a day at 2.5 ATA) improved mitochondrial morphology and significantly increased the levels of ATP. This study shows a “restoration of mitochondrial function” and helping to improve cellular energy levels. <view study>

Aging and obesity related cognitive decline restored by hyperbaric oxygen therapy

The combination of aging and obesity play major factors in the accelerated aging and degeneration of the brain. Commonly seen symptoms are characterized by problems with memory, language, thinking or judgment.

In this study, a simple 2 week course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy was shown to be effective in restoring cognitive function. The protocol used was 2.0 ATA, 80 minutes daily, for 14 days. The researchers noted that “HBOT restored insulin sensitivity, hippocampal functions, cognition in aging and aging-obese models” in this study done on rats <view study>

Research review supports the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease

The most common cause of dementia in the elderly is Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been reported to have numerous physiological benefits for the brain, particularly for aging or degenerative brain disorders. This review article published in the journal of Alzheimer’s disease (JAD) reviewed 391 full text articles between 1980-2021. The data from these studies showed both neurocognitive benefits along with positive clinical outcome for AD. These results led the authors of this review article to advocate for the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for AD. They also encourage future studies to be performed for protocol development, with the goal of long-term cognitive health <view study>

The rejuvenating effects of intermittent hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Intermittent hyperbaric oxygen therapy is shown to help reduce the cellular and biological aging of the body and effectively help us live longer and more important, healthier.

One of the effects seen during the aging process is a decline in cerebral blood flow, causing a reduction in brain oxygen levels. Cognitive and mental performance are effected, particularly in attention and information processing speed.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help combat the decline in cognitive function by supplying the brain with a surplus of oxygen. In addition, the intermittent application of this procedure causes changes in oxygen tensions that promote beneficial regulatory protein changes (from the flux in oxygen levels from high to normal).

These changes include an increase in SIRT1, HIF-1A, and a reduction in CD28 null senescent T helper and cytotoxic T cells.

• SIRT1 increases mitochondrial biogenesis (energy production) and attenuates telomere length thereby contributing to an increased healthy lifespan and reducing aging-related diseases.

• CD28^null senescent T helper and cytotoxic T cells are aging-associated biomarkers and lower levels are associated with a reduction in aging

• HIF-1A& functions as a master regulator of cellular and systemic homeostatic response to hypoxia (low oxygen) by activating the transcription of many genes, including those involved in energy metabolism, angiogenesis (creation of new blood vessels, and circulation), and much more.

Improving Bone Regeneration with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Poor Bone healing is one of the many associated health concerns for diabetics, who are known to have a reduced ability to form bone and have poor bone quality, thus influencing bone healing. Since hyperbaric oxygen has been used for a variety of diabetic-related conditions including poor wound healing, researchers in this study decided to observe the bone healing effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy over a short 7 day duration. The results showed favorable improvements in bone regeneration and these findings were subsequently published in this journal <view study>

Impact of Hyperbaric oxygen therapy on dental implants

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is very well known for its positive effects in early bone healing and more importantly on its promotion of new bone growth. Now it is being more commonly used alongside dental procedures, including implants. For an implant to be successful, it ideally needs to have bone grow around it on all sides. This study was able to demonstrate that the addition of hyperbaric therapy improved bone growth following implantation. One of the key clinical benefits that was observed was that the healing time around the implants was significantly reduced. Overall, it may be a very good idea to utilize the regenerative benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for patients undergoing dental surgery, particularly for those who are at greater risk for complications or failures <view study>

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Improves Bone Regeneration

“Bone loss and subsequent repair are biological processes related to many pathological conditions affecting bones, including fractures, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, osteomyelitis, osteonecrosis, and tumor. HBOT could have a promising future as an adjunctive therapeutic approach for treating many challenges cases of inflammation-related bone loss.” <view study>

Effects of mild hyperbaric oxygen on osteoporosis

Bone loss is a common problem seen in the aging population, mainly due to disuse. This is also a seen in astronauts, patients that are on extended bed rests, and in people leading a sedentary lifestyle. Disuse-induced Bone Loss is can lead to osteoporosis and higher risks of bone fractures.

In this study, a 10 day course of mild hyperbaric therapy (1.3 ATA) was shown to protect and counter disuse-induced bone loss while helping to enhance new bone formation. <view study>

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps protect arthritic joints

During the various stages of arthritis, the joints and surrounding tissue are in constant attack from oxidation stressors and inflammatory reactions. This causes progressive damage and leads to the many debilities that are seen in arthritis sufferers. This study used 1.25 ATA (low pressure) hyperbaric therapy and discovered that a 3 week course of this hyperbaric dosage had a protective effect <view study>

Hyperbaric oxygen improves cognitive impairment

A total of 53 patients (42 with Alzheimer’s disease and 11 with mild cognitive impairment) were treated with a 20-day course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Each hyperbaric session consisted of 3 sequential parts; first, 20 minutes of oxygen breathing, followed by 15 minutes of breathing air, and finally 20 minutes of breathing oxygen under pressure at 1.2 ATA.

Results — One course (20 sessions) of hyperbaric oxygen therapy significantly improved cognition in both Alzheimer's patients and patients with Mild Cognitive impairment, with the latter having more long-term benefits (&gt; 1 month). These results are very promising for Alzheimer's patients and suggest that it is possible that multiple courses might be the solution for giving significantly longer benefits to AD patients. More research is still needed <view study>

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps preserve cognitive function in a rat model of mild cognitive impairment

This study found that hyperbaric oxygen treatment has a protective effect on early cognitive function, especially memory in rats with mild cognitive impairment <view study>

Turn back the aging clock — Hyperbaric oxygen therapy REVERSES telomere length, a critical determinant in the aging process

Telomere length serves as a biological clock to determine our lifespan. Every year, our telomeres (the ends of our DNA) get shorter until they finally shorten to a length that leads to our mortality.

Over the past few decades, researchers and drug companies have focused (and invested substantial capital) on this key biological determinant (telomere length) in the hopes of being able to stop and reverse the aging process.

Since many age-related diseases (like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and Alzheimer’s) are also linked to shortened telmeres, it is easy to see why so many drug and nutritional companies have been working hard on finding a cure to stop and reverse the shortening of telomeres.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has already been demonstrated in clinical studies to help the aging population by reducing the signs of aging and age-related diseases. In 2006, a landmark study showed an 800% increase in stem cell mobilization from a course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This gave us a much better understanding of the physiological benefits of this procedure in relation to the aging process.

Today we have even more information as a second landmark study has been published on the effects of hyperbaric therapy in regards to telomere length. In this study, a 3 month course of hyperbaric therapy produced a profound increase in telomere length by 20% – 38%. (This is higher than any other intervention currently available). The hyperbaric protocol used to produce these benefits included 60 hyperbaric sessions (each at 90 minute sessions at 2.0 ATA with 3 air breaks).

This exciting new study will surely lead to many more telomere-based studies in the field of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and further help to advance our knowledge of this therapy. View Full Study in the JOURNAL OF AGING

Due to the significance of this study, it has quickly been picked up by many news associations like the following:

• View in the Independent

• View in yahoo news

• View in the telegraph

• View in Aljazeera

• View in Science alert

• View in Neuroscience news

Alzheimer’s disease — researchers find hyperbaric oxygen reduces amyloid plaques and causes large gains in blood flow to the brain

This exciting new study shows that Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy (HBOT) may REVERSE dementia development by preventing the deposit of new amyloid plaques on the brain cells and even leading to the removal of existing ones!

The 2 most common types of dementia are vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It is now believed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can effectively help to halt both of these devastating conditions, while also being able to help reverse the cognitive decline seen in the aging process.

The production of amyloid plaques are a hallmark of AD, consisting of hard, insoluble accumulations of beta amyloid proteins that clump together between the nerve cells and block their communication. Compounding this, is a reduction in oxygen (hypoxia) and reduction in blood flow to these regions inside the brain.

Since the pathophysiology includes both the build up of amyloid plaques and a reduction in cerebral blood flow (CBF), the researchers designed this study to deploy a typical course of HBOT and then observe any changes in both amyloid plaque and CBF, while also documenting any clinical improvements. They did this by presenting a 2-fold study, the first being an animal study which was then followed up with a small human study. Both showed extremely promising results and confirmed previous studies for HBOT’s potential role in treating dementia and memory loss.

Initial Animal Study: Mice were exposed to 20 HBOT sessions (2.0 ATA, 60 min) causing a significant:

Reduction in amyloid burden (by reducing the volume of pre-existing plaques and attenuating the formation of new ones).

Improvement in vascular parameters

Improvement in behavior and performance of cognitive-based tasks.

Human follow-up study: Six elderly patients with significant memory loss were treated with 60 HBOT sessions (2.0 ATA, 90 min) and both CBF and cognitive function were evaluated and the results were as follows:

Cerbral Blood Flow — Following HBOT, there were significant CBF increases in several brain areas, including 8 Brodmann areas.

Cognitive function — Cognitive assessment revealed a significant increase in the global cognitive score, where memory, attention and information processing speed domain scores showed most benefits. The improvements in these scores correlated with improved short and working memory.

This study, along with previous studies by these authors, demonstrates that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be deployed at any stage of the dementia process, from early on with mild cognitive impairment, to advanced stages seen in Alzheimer’s. disease. view study

View media Exclusive: Alzheimer’s could be ‘halted’ using oxygen therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy induces brown adipose tissue making it a potential tool for metabolic disorders

Human brown adipose tissue (BAT) can be activated to increase glucose uptake and energy expenditure, making it a potential target for treating obesity and metabolic disease. Brown fat produces heat to help maintain your body temperature in cold conditions and its glucose uptake is ~8-fold higher than that of skeletal muscles, on average, per gram of tissue during mild cold exposure

In this animal study, a 7 day course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy was able to cause an increase glucose uptake while also inducing BAT development, leading the authors to conclude that “HBO therapy as a novel method of inducing BAT development, considering its therapeutic potential for the treatment of metabolic disorders”. view study

Reverse the signs of aging skin through hyperbaric oxygen therapy

A landmark study published in “Aging” clearly demonstrates the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for skin health and structural integrity for older individuals.

More specifically, the application of a 3-month hyperbaric protocol showed “significant aging modulation effects by decreasing senescent cells, inducing angiogenesis and increasing elastic fiber length and stability and collagen density.”It should be noted that skin aging is largely influenced by a lack of circulation and higher cell senescence, both of which can be counteracted with a simple course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

The hyperbaric protocol is comprised of 60 daily sessions, five sessions per week within a three-month period. Each session included breathing 100% oxygen by mask at 2ATA for 90 minutes with five-minute air breaks every 20 minutes. The research used a combination of skin biopsies and other dermatological markers to document these results on a total of 13 elderly individuals (averaging 68 years of age).view study

Gene therapy may explain the benefits of hyperbaric therapy in the aging population

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is being utilized for a variety of health conditions, particularly those affecting the aging population.

Numerous benefits have been reported, both in clinical research and in outcome studies. This has given way to a further rise in research studies, with the goal to provide more data to help better understand and/or confirm these benefits.

This study followed 30 patients, who all underwent a typical course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (60 total sessions at 2.0 ATA), and evaluated the genetic changes that followed the induction of this procedure. In particular, they looked at transcriptome sequencing.

By studying transcriptomes, researchers hope to determine when and where genes are turned on or off in various types of cells and tissues Following the 60 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a total of 1912 genes were affected (1342 genes were turned on and 570 genes turned off.

This study demonstrates the affects of HBOT on the genetic processes within the body and may further help to explain the many benefits that have been reported from this procedure view study