A large section of people across the globe suffers a stroke every year. In the USA, it is the third cause of disability and death and the second cause of patient death. Although medicine has made immense progress in managing stroke, still 75% of patients experience chronic dysfunction.
In the past ten years, scientists have tested the efficiency of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in treating chronic stroke symptoms.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment using 100% oxygen at higher pressure to improve oxygen delivery inside the body. When the patient is sitting in the hyperbaric chamber, he or she inhales pure oxygen at high pressure. With high pressure, our bodily fluids start carrying oxygen to tissues and cells. Therefore, our body is hyper-oxygenated, which helps stimulate many processes, such as releasing enzymes that curb oxidative stress. In this way, hyperbaric oxygen therapy also helps stroke patients by oxygenating dead or diseased cells and tissues.
In the case of chronic stroke, the patient experiences cell death, and the area surrounding it experiences an injury. With the help of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, cells regenerate, and injured cells heal, which is why post-ischemic inflammation reduces and that allows the brain to function properly. Even mitochondrial function improves with regular hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Assists in Treatment of Chronic-Stage Stroke?
The literature in this area suggests that there’s been substantial improvement in physiological and neurological deficits with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, including daily activities, quality of life, and cognitive function.
As in this experiment conducted by Efrati et al., hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps improve neurological functioning in stroke patients involving chronic stages too.
In another study, Boussi-Gross et al. evaluated the efficiency of HBOT on chronic stroke patients. These 90 patients experience improvement in memory with consistent therapy.
Hadanny et al also researched and studied 162 patients recently and suggested that regardless of the location or type of the stroke, HBOT helped improve microstructure regeneration. This improved the health of the patient.
When scientists are assessing the candidate for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, they evaluate a series of factors, such as cognition, physical, and emotional deficits. The patient should also have metabolic and anatomical imaging to move forward.
Ideally, patients who have high metabolic defects with a mismatch in anatomical and functional findings are considered for the therapy.
Based on the above factors, patients who complete the program are exposed to hyperbaric oxygen therapy for two hours a day at 2.0ATA pressure. This continues for five days a week leading to around 60 treatments. This treatment is combined with other treatments, such as occupational, physical, and cognitive therapies, which amplify the impact. At the end of the study, the quality of life is assessed for the patient to know the differences.
Studies That Support the Treatment Efficiency
In this section, we have highlighted a case study of a patient, Mr. Jones. He was treated for eight years after he experienced an ischaemic stroke, which led to hemiparesis on the left side. He needed complete assistance to stand and for daily activities. He used a wheelchair to move around the house and wherever he went.
After completing the full assessment, involving brain imaging and cognitive and physical assessment, he was considered for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Before the therapy, he was only able to walk 30 feet in a total of 1.37 minutes.
Mr. Jones took hyperbaric oxygen therapy for 12 weeks and completed 60 HBOT sessions. This included other assistive therapies, such as occupational therapy, concomitant physical therapy, dietician coaching, and neuropsychological training.
After the treatment, his scans revealed a 20% improvement in metabolic functions. His cognitive rating also improved and led to better functioning, memory, and attention. His physical performance was better, as he was able to walk 86 feet in a total of 2 minutes.
Overall, this patient regained his independence, and he didn’t need a wheelchair to move around anymore.
Why does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Help?
With the above discussion, it is obvious that HBOT therapy helps improve metabolism in dead and diseased brain cells.
- During the therapy, our body improves in the following ways:
- Regeneration of stem cells
- Improvement in cell metabolism
- Reduction in mitochondrial dysfunction
- Reduction in inflammation
- Reduction in oxidative stress
These factors together help the brain and body to heal. For example, one of the major causes of decreased or diminished blood flow in the brain is inflammation. With HBOT therapy, inflammation reduces, and oxygen helps release enzymes that curb oxidative stress. A collective impact improves health and offers relief to the patient.
The impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not reversed once the patient stops the therapy. It has a permanent effect that helps many patients live normal life. Additionally, the therapy is non-invasive with minimal side effects unless the patient has an ear disorder. Even during the therapy, the patient doesn’t experience any discomfort, they can comfortably sleep in the chamber.
If you or a member of your family is suffering from symptoms of a stroke, consider hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Consult your doctor for a comprehensive treatment plan.