Stroke and Hyperbaric Treatments

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S and has remained a leading cause of adult disability with 800,000 cases reported every year. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been shown to help prevent and treat stroke through a number of different mechanisms with specialized stroke treatments.

HBOT can be used to precondition the brain by producing more circulatory pathways to potentially decrease the chance of stoke. Also, this has been shown to benefit post-stroke patients, as compromised blood flow to the affected area of the brain and its functionality are recoverable by introducing increased levels of oxygen. Studies have demonstrated the benefits of HBOT for stoke treatments with the following:

Study: Neurological Function Improved in Post-Stroke Patients with HBOT

In January, 2013 a retrospective, randomized, controlled trial focused on the introduction of HBOT post-stroke patients. A total of 59 participants, who had suffered a stroke 6 months prior to inclusion and had at least one motor dysfunction, were randomly assigned to treated and cross-over groups. The treated group received two months of 40, one hour HBOT sessions, five days a week as part of their stroke treatments.

Whereas the cross-over group was evaluated after one month with no HBOT and again after one month following HBOT, utilizing the same treatment protocol. The evaluating physicians found the neurological function, brain activity and quality of life of all treated patients improved after HBOT. Brain scan results directly correlated with clinical improvements and indicated that HBOT can lead to significant neurological improvements in post-stroke patients, even at chronic late stages. The observed clinical improvements indicated that new brain connections can be activated long after a stroke occurs and HBOT should be implemented in stroke treatments.