According to a University of Maryland Medical Centre publication, patients who get hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) report little to no negative effects from the therapy. Still, there is a chance of adverse consequences with any medical operation.

Certain individuals report experiencing dizziness just after their session. Most people were able to resume their regular activities without any more problems because this feeling usually subsided within a few minutes.

Rarely, variations in pressure inside the sensitive eye tissue may lead to abnormalities in vision. It is said that adverse effects go away six to eight weeks following therapy.

The majority of HBOT’s adverse effects are mild and go away quickly once the therapy is over.

Claustrophobia

Claustrophobia is a severe emotional response brought on by a fear of confined areas or crowded areas. A pressurised chamber’s enclosed interior can make people feel anxious and claustrophobic.

The clear acrylic used to construct the more recent HBOT chambers allows for complete room vision. You always have a complete view of your surroundings because you have the chamber’s clear shell.

Inform your clinician in advance of your consultation if cramped settings make you uncomfortable. To aid in your relaxation throughout your therapy, they may recommend medication.

A qualified healthcare practitioner stays in the room for the duration of the session, which typically lasts two hours. They are nearly instantaneously reachable by intercom if you need help. A lot of patients fall asleep, watch a movie, or play music while receiving therapy.

A monoplace chamber has one person in mind. Some treatment facilities include multiplace chambers where many patients can get care at once if you find small settings unpleasant. To find out more about your alternatives, contact your specific treatment facility.

Exhaustion or Dizziness

Weakness and exhaustion may be experienced after hyperbaric therapy. This is normal and should pass after a brief period of inactivity.

Consult a physician or other medical expert if these side effects worsen your quality of life or continue. It could be necessary to review your treatment plan.

Low Blood Sugar

Blood sugar levels in diabetics may decline while undergoing therapy. Here, safety is ensured by monitoring sugar levels during the procedure.

Consuming food prior to the visit can assist in regulating blood sugar levels and reducing symptoms that follow treatment.

Eye Strain, Discomfort, or Trauma

The shape of the eye’s lens may momentarily alter due to the shift in air pressure. Although the alteration often makes nearsightedness worse, it can help with age-related changes that impair eye focus.

These are momentary changes, and the eye will often return to its pre-treatment state in six to eight weeks.

Rarely, does a person’s vision never return to what it was before therapy.

Ear Pressure, Discomfort, or Trauma

One may compare the pressure fluctuations experienced during an aeroplane descent to what is sensed inside a hyperbaric chamber. The environment may pressurise the ears and make them feel as though they must “pop.”

One of the most typical adverse effects of HBOT is ear damage.

To relieve this pressure, one must physically open the Eustachian tube, which joins the middle ear and sinuses. The valve is forced open by chewing or swallowing, which releases the trapped air and stabilises the pressure.

The eardrum will begin to bend inward and deform if excessive pressure accumulates in the ear. Rarely, hearing loss or an eardrum perforation might result from this.

Sinus Pressure, Discomfort, or Trauma

The second most frequent adverse effect of HBOT that is observed is sinus discomfort.

Like the ear, the sinuses are made up of chambers that are filled with air. A sinus squeeze may result from variations in pressure on one side of that chamber.

This shift in pressure leads to an inflammatory response in the sinuses. Congestion, face discomfort, and oedema might result from the enlarged sinuses blocking the nasal airways.

In the event that the pressure within the sinus cavity is not balanced, severe facial discomfort and sinus haemorrhage may result. These are uncommon symptoms that can be treated with steroid nasal spray, antihistamines, or decongestant nasal spray.

Tooth Pain, Damage or Trauma

Tooth discomfort at the root may result from pressure changes during treatment if there is an air pocket in the tooth.

This modification, also referred to as “tooth squeeze,” can occur during decompression or compression. Dental fractures can result from excessive pressure building up inside the tooth.

A dental infection, sinusitis, and recent dental treatment are some potential reasons of tooth squeeze.

The majority of research on tooth squeeze has focused on divers, pilots, and passengers not involved in hyperbaric treatment.

Prior to your consultation, a dentist assessment might help stop tooth squeeze symptoms before they arise. To find out if you’re a good candidate for therapy, a hyperbaric medical doctor can examine your teeth.

Lung Pain, Damage or Trauma

If you have any of the following, you may be more susceptible to developing pulmonary symptoms:

 

• asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• other respiratory conditions

 

A lung collapse might result from overinflation of the lungs allowing air to leak to the chest cavity. Reduced blood pressure and breathing difficulties might result from the extra air in the chest cavity.

Another possibility is that the lungs might embolise blood vessels by leaking air within. Blood bubbles containing gas may make their way to the heart and other organs, obstructing the flow of new blood. If left untreated, an embolism can be deadly.

Toxicity or Oxygen Poisoning 

The lungs might not be able to withstand the high oxygen concentration in a hyperbaric chamber. Oxygen is entering the lungs at 100% saturation.

Breathing problems, chest discomfort, and even respiratory collapse might result from prolonged exposure to elevated oxygen levels.

While pulmonary oxygen toxicity shouldn’t be anticipated with typical daily HBOT, it is possible with extended exposure.

The central nervous system may be overloaded by the amount of oxygen present in the chamber. Seizures could result from this. This is an uncommon event, and the seizure normally goes away when the extra oxygen is stopped.

Final Words

Every medical procedure has a chance of causing adverse consequences. The majority of HBOT’s adverse effects are modest and go away quickly once the therapy is over.

There are some diseases that might make it more likely for adverse effects to get worse. HBOT side effects may be more severe in those who have recently had any kind of dental or ear surgery (or accident), have a history of collapsed lungs, or have specific lung diseases.

The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society certifies that all HBOT facilities are eligible for use. To make sure your treatment facility is adhering to federal regulations, find out about the relevant certifications.

If handled improperly, pressurised oxygen is extremely flammable and can explode.