Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a type of therapy where a patient lies in a pressurized chamber and breathes pure oxygen. The increased pressure allows more oxygen to enter the bloodstream, promoting your body's natural healing processes. HBOT has been used for decades to treat disorders such as carbon monoxide poisoning and decompression sickness, but new research has suggested that HBOT could help treat many other conditions, including sleep disorders.
How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Treat Sleep Disorders
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help treat sleep disorders and is a promising treatment for many conditions that can interrupt sleep.
Induce Neuroplasticity
A recent study from 2022 found that HBOT can induce neuroplasticity, resulting in improved cognitive, pain, and sleep symptoms. Neuroplasticity is what allows the brain to change and form new synaptic connections. This means that HBOT can help your brain form new connections and change in ways that can relieve symptoms caused by sleep disorders or other conditions that can interrupt sleep.
These results may be attributed to increased brain perfusion, which refers to how much blood is taken up in the brain. They could also be related to neuroplasticity in regions that have emotional or cognitive roles.
Increase Blood Flow
Oxygen can stimulate the growth of new blood vessels and help repair damaged ones. HBOT can also help decrease swelling within the tissues, which can increase blood flow. This increase in blood flow helps your body and brain heal. With more cerebral blood flow, your brain can heal and recover from insufficient sleep. It can also help reduce any physical discomfort that may be interrupting your sleep.
Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation can also contribute to disrupted sleep. HBOT can help address and relieve inflammation, which can help you sleep better.
Sleep Disorders That Can Be Treated With HBOT
HBOT has shown significant promise in treating sleep disorders. It can help patients who take a long time to fall asleep or who regularly wake up at night. Sleep disorders or other sleep-interrupting conditions that can be treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy include:
Insomnia
Insomnia can have many different causes. Sometimes other disorders cause it, such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome. Inflammation or poor cognitive function can also make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. Concentrated oxygen can help reduce inflammation, combatting symptoms and causes of insomnia.
HBOT also helps promote natural healing processes within the body, so if general pain is causing insomnia, then it could help address the underlying issue. HBOT can help combat the adverse cognitive effects of inadequate sleep by improving cognitive function, allowing you to sleep better.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is characterized by the repeated stopping of breathing during sleep. This breathing pattern can result in low oxygen levels, negatively affecting your health and interrupting your sleep. HBOT can deliver more oxygen to the body, raising oxygen levels and potentially improving sleep.
Restless Legs Syndrome
The cause of restless legs syndrome has not been determined and is still being researched. Iron-deficiency anemia and peripheral neuropathy have been linked to the condition. HBOT has been used to treat both of these conditions. Other research also suggests that restless legs syndrome could be due to "peripheral hypoxia," meaning there is not enough oxygen in the legs. HBOT could help treat this condition by delivering more oxygen to the body and legs.
Disorders That Cause Problems With Sleeping
Other conditions, such as cerebral palsy and fibromyalgia, can cause trouble while sleeping. Research on these two conditions has shown a positive correlation between HBOT and improved patient sleep.
Where Can I Get Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
If you have a sleep disorder or experience trouble sleeping because of another condition, then hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be an effective treatment for you. Speak with your physician about obtaining a prescription for HBOT. Once you have a prescription, you can make an appointment at a facility that offers the treatment.
Some hospitals have hyperbaric oxygen chambers. You can also go to a freestanding hyperbaric center, which is a facility that focuses entirely on providing hyperbaric oxygen therapy. These centers can also treat certain conditions that sometimes cannot be treated in hospitals. Make an appointment today to start your journey toward sleeping better!
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