How does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy help brain injury or stroke?
When cells in the brain die, either from trauma or lack of oxygen, blood plasma leaks out into surrounding brain tissue causing swelling and reducing blood flow. These otherwise normal cells go dormant because they can’t function without the appropriate amount of oxygen. HBOT dramatically increases the oxygen carried in the blood plasma, making oxygen available to heal damaged capillary walls, preventing plasma leakage and reducing swelling. As the swelling decreases, blood flow can be restored to tissues preventing further damage. When the blood flow has been impaired for an extended period, it may be necessary to establish new blood vessels into the dormant tissue (neovascularization) and in many cases once availability of oxygen is established to these cells their potential to function again returns.
