Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
When the body’s natural healing process becomes hindered by a pre-existing medical condition, such as diabetes, hyperbaric oxygen, or HBO, therapy can bring much-needed relief.
Why Would I Need Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
There are many factors that impact the healing of wounds - diabetes, weight gain, heart disease, poor circulation and medications. These are just a few of the many existing conditions that can slow down or stop your body's ability to heal its wounds.
Your body's tissues need an adequate supply of oxygen to function. When tissue is injured, it requires greater amounts of oxygen to survive. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the amount of oxygen the blood can carry to improve a compromised patient's ability to heal.
Our knowledgeable staff offers an interdisciplinary approach to treating wounds. Our team is composed of board-certified specialists in orthopedic and vascular surgery, enterostomal therapy, podiatry, family medicine, infectious diseases and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. You can be certain that you will receive high-quality care from all members of our nursing staff, certified wound specialists who have completed advanced studies. If your treatment requires, our team can also provide referrals for orthotics, dietary guidelines, physical therapy, pain control, home health care and orthopedic foot and ankle care.
Our facility is committed to coordinating outpatient wound management procedures and activities required for optimal patient care.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Penn Highlands
Penn Highlands Healthcare provides hyperbaric oxygen treatment in DuBois and Monongahela. HBO therapy occurs in a special chamber, which creates a pressurized environment where the patient breathes 100 percent oxygen.
The air pressure inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber is about two and a half times higher than the normal pressure in the atmosphere. This helps the blood carry more oxygen to organs and tissues in the body to help wounds, especially infected wounds, heal more quickly.
The combination of oxygen and pressure allows damaged tissues to heal and promotes the growth of new tissues, such as blood vessels and skin.
There are guidelines and criteria that must be met prior to beginning HBO therapy. Some health issues, such as having a pacemaker, might preclude people from the therapy. Talk with your physician about whether HBO therapy is appropriate for you.
