From Athletes to Aesthetics: the Versatile Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

by Renee Young, N.D. in HBOT

Every second of every day, oxygen is hard at work in our bodies, powering countless cellular processes that keep us alive and functioning. Now imagine what would happen if we could double, triple or even quadruple that power supply.

That’s what we do with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). During a session, you sit or lie down in one of our two FDA-approved HBOT units. While you breathe pure oxygen through a comfortable mask, hood or nasal cannula, air pressure increases in the environment around you. This, in turn, increases the amount of oxygen your body can absorb, and that oxygen boost triggers a cascade of positive effects.

For those of you that like to be in the know like us, here is the medical explanation for your beautiful mind. One red blood cell can carry 1.2 billion oxygen molecules. If the oxygen stays on your red blood cells, it never heals tissue. The pressure experienced physiologically in HBOT allows oxygen to leave your red blood cells and enter your plasma.

Your plasma only carries 1-2% of your oxygen at most. Breathing 100% oxygen while at pressure can increase your plasma concentrations by 1200%, meaning you 12X your capacity to aid in healing your tissue. The air we breathe is only 21% oxygen, this variation between 100% and 21% won the Nobel Prize in 2019 for the discovery of HIF-1a. Hypoxia Inducing Factor 1 is responsible for sensing low oxygen and demanding the body responds by healing.

HBOT can be an incredible support for nearly anyone seeking to optimize their body’s innate capacities. Who doesn’t need more oxygenation in their cells? From elite athletes seeking a competitive edge to individuals managing chronic health conditions, from those pursuing ageless skin to professionals demanding peak mental clarity, HBOT offers a spectrum of diverse and exciting benefits.

You may be surprised to discover how something as simple as the air you breathe can be harnessed to unlock extraordinary potential in your body and mind.

HBOT for Athletic Performance and Recovery

HBOT is a powerful addition to an athlete’s training and recovery regimen. Improved oxygenation of your tissues can enhance your endurance and stamina, helping you push through your toughest workouts and reach new personal bests.

Post-workout, the increased oxygen can promote healing, reduce swelling and stimulate new blood vessel formation so you can return to training and competition faster. HBOT has been shown to:

Reduce exercise-induced muscle soreness
Enhance the body’s ability to clear lactic acid and other metabolic waste products
Accelerate healing from sports injuries
Minimize scar tissue formation
Reduce the likelihood of chronic pain, loss of flexibility and long-term complications after injury

Multiple studies support the use of HBOT in sports medicine, and many top athletes — from NFL quarterback Tom Brady to NBA star LeBron James — have reportedly adopted it as part of their recovery routines.

HBOT’s Role in Aesthetics and Anti-aging

HBOT isn’t just for athletes (or you weekend warriors). Research from 2020 suggests that HBOT may become one of our most powerful tools for aging with vitality. Not only can it help with tissue regeneration and collagen production, it may actually reverse biological markers of aging at the cellular level.

A study published in the peer-reviewed journal Aging found that HBOT could have two critical impacts on the aging process:

Increasing Telomere Length: Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes, similar to the plastic tips on shoelaces. Our telomeres naturally shorten as we age. However, longer telomeres are associated with better cellular health and longevity. This study concluded that HBOT could increase telomere length at a rate of 20-38%.
Senescent Cell Reduction: Senescent cells are old cells that have stopped dividing but haven’t been cleared from the body. These “zombie” cells accumulate and contribute to various age-related conditions. The study found that HBOT could reduce the number of senescent cells in the body by 11-37%, depending on the cell type.

Beyond these cellular changes, HBOT may contribute to more visible aesthetic benefits like improved skin elasticity, smoothness and radiance. It is also used to accelerate wound healing and recovery from plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures.

Boosting Your Brain Power with HBOT

In this demanding and fast-paced world, who couldn’t use a mental edge? HBOT delivers here too, offering a range of cognitive benefits that can help you stay sharp.

By increasing oxygen flow to your brain, HBOT can improve mental clarity and focus. Many of our patients report feeling more alert and productive after their sessions. For those dealing with brain fog or fatigue, HBOT can be a breath of fresh air – literally!

And the cognitive benefits of HBOT may extend beyond day-to-day mental performance. Emerging research is investigating the use of hyperbarics for traumatic brain injuries (TBI), brain damage after cardiac arrest and ischemic stroke, long COVID, Alzheimer’s disease and more.

HBOT for Serious and Chronic Conditions

HBOT offers hope for those struggling with chronic conditions, like fibromyalgia and Lyme disease, where traditional medical approaches often fall short. These complex, multifaceted disorders can be frustrating for both patients and healthcare providers, as they often don’t respond well to standard therapies.

It’s showing promise in a range of serious and chronic health issues, including:

Chronic fatigue
Autoimmune disorders
Traumatic brain injuries
Chronic pain syndromes
Anemia
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Arthritis
Migraines and headaches
Inflammatory bowel disease
Multiple sclerosis symptoms
Non-healing wounds
Osteomyelitis (bone infections)
Pancreatitis
Spinal cord injuries

The FDA, Medicare and numerous private insurers recognize and cover HBOT for certain medical conditions. Many other applications of HBOT, though not yet FDA-approved, are supported by a substantial body of research and clinical evidence.

But you don’t need to be battling a specific health condition to benefit from HBOT. This versatile therapy can be a valuable addition to anyone’s wellness routine. Many of our patients report reduced stress levels and improved sleep quality after starting sessions. Optimized oxygen levels can also support your immune system or give you an overall boost in energy and vitality.

Experience Cutting-edge HBOT in Los Gatos

When you come to Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness for HBOT, we start with a comprehensive assessment to understand your unique health needs and goals. Based on this, we create a customized treatment plan that may combine HBOT with other therapies for optimal results. We offer single HBOT sessions (aka “Dives”) as well as packages of 6 or more. Single sessions are a great introduction and can treat a migraine on the spot, but the benefits of HBOT are mostly seen with multiple treatments and often range from 3 to 40 sessions. Larger packages and weekly rates are available upon request.

For more information, we invite you to take the first step and schedule a complimentary consultation with our Patient Care Concierge Team today.