Stroke is the third largest
cause of death, and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability
in the United States. Stroke is a form of cardiovascular disease, affecting
blood flow to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel
that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain either bursts or is blocked.
This causes areas of the brain, which are not receiving oxygen through
blood, to die or become dormant. When areas of the brain die from a
stroke, the area of the body corresponding to the affected damaged areas
of the brain becomes dysfunctional.
Medical studies have found that while the prominent brain tissue
of stroke patients may be damaged irreversibly, surrounding tissue
that is considered dormant may be restored with hyperbaric oxygen
therapy. It is these surrounding sleeping areas (the ischemic penumbra)
that are responsible for the majority of the disability present in
stroke. Reviving these inactive areas with oxygen has resulted in
a return of functionality and in some cases, dramatic recovery.
Hyperbaric
Oxygen Therapy for the Treatment of Stroke
Swelling of tissues, resulting
in lack of blood flow and oxygen, often accompany the death of cells
in brain tissues in stroke patients. Hyperbaric pressurizes the environment
to allow oxygen to better penetrate parts of the body where blood
flow is hindered. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy alleviates ischemia and
hypoxia, which are defined as lack of blood flow and oxygen. In addition,
the therapy decreases swelling of chronically traumatized areas of
the brain as well as other swollen tissues.
Oxygen is dissolved in
the plasma and nourishes tissues, regardless of the absence of red
blood cells, when hyperbaric oxygen therapy is utilized. The pressurized
chamber forces oxygen into all areas of the body, resulting in a re-awakening
of dormant areas of the brain prevalent in persons who have suffered
a stroke. Hyperbaric therapy is also known to regenerate new blood
vessels to damaged areas of the brain and aids in the repair and restoration
of glial cells, extracellular matrix and injured neurons.
Hyperbaric
Oxygen Research
Researchers worldwide are
discovering promising results regarding the effects of hyperbaric
therapy on brain cells damaged by stroke. Recent studies have seen
a drastic decrease in the effects of stoke in the body in the majority
of cases, when hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used either immediately
following the incident or decades later. In situations where hyperbaric
treatments are administered in years after a stroke, symptoms have
remarkably decreased and neuron restoration was evident.
Significant symptom resolution
was found in a study treating patients with hyperbaric oxygen therapy
at 1.5 ATA for 60 minute sessions. Neurological improvements were
demonstrated with the patients, resulting in better speech and thought
process, seemingly caused by the increased blood blow in the ischemic
penumbra. Significant improvements were also noted in attention, executive
function, communication and memory as a result of the hyperbaric treatments.
Research results presented
at the National Stroke Association Conference stated that evaluation
of stroke patients, treated with between 1.5 and 2 ATA of hyperbaric
oxygen therapy, showed promising results. Patients showed marked improvements
in mobility, speech, memory, thinking, and understanding after receiving
the therapy. Scientists also demonstrated positive changes in vision,
balance, urine and bowel control in patients, and interestingly, saw
symptom resolution in patients who were diagnosed with other conditions
such as diabetes, immune dysfunction, and viral infections after hyperbaric
therapy was used.
|
