Features & Benefits
Oxygen Therapy Reduces Diabetic
Amputations by 70%
Oxygen therapy is a medically approved, non-invasive, non-intrusive, natural medical therapy. It is either the primary or secondary therapy in dealing with a number of medical ailments. Most people have never heard of it. Of those who have, most don't realize that it is available in Calgary and completely covered by Alberta Health Care.
Oxygen Vital for Healing
Promotes Faster Healing
Proven Medical Trials
Users Hyperbaric Chamber
Effective for Treating Diabetic Wounds
Success Can Be Predicted
Your Doctor Can Refer You
OXYGEN VITAL FOR HEALING
The medical profession has long known that oxygen is vital for healing wounds and treating many other aliments. Oxygen (by mask) is often the first treatment provided to patients in hospital. This is because oxygen in blood or tissue promotes the healing process. The question has been asked - "How can this therapy be dramatically improved?""
The answer is called hyperbaric oxygen therapy or HBOT. This is an approved medical treatment by which the patient inhales 100% oxygen while at a pressure greater than sea level. A standard treatment pressure is 2.4-2.6 atmosphere absolute. This combination of increased oxygen and this increased pressure provide the body with approximately 20 times the normal oxygen. This provides increased healing power.
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PROMOTES FASTER HEALING
The therapy promotes, and in some cases accelerates, the body's natural recuperation powers.
"Numerous clinical studies of HBOT have demonstrated the effectiveness for treating diabetic foot wounds."
When HBOT is used in conjunction with standard wound care, improved results have been demonstrated in the healing of difficult or limb threatening wounds as a compared to routine wound care alone.
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PROVEN MEDICAL TRIALS
Numerous clinical studies of HBOT have demonstrated the effectiveness for treating diabetic foot wounds. Carefully selected cases of lower extremity lesions show a 70-90% success in avoidance of amputations and in many cases, complete wound healing using HBOT treatments.
For more information on these studies go to
www.uhms.org.
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USES HYPERBARIC CHAMBER
The patient receives HBOT while in a reclined position in a one-person hyperbaric chamber.
Oxygen is delivered to the patient by either oxygen mask or hood. Air breaks are taken periodically to ensure patients are protected from oxygen toxicity.
"HBOT is both painless and non-invasive."
HBOT is both painless and non-invasive. The patient breathes normally during therapy. Because of increased air pressure the patient may feel a "stiffness" in their eardrum. The procedure to equalize the pressure is the same as when one descends in an airplane. The attending therapist will coach the patient during HBOT treatments. The pressurization rate will be kept deliberately slow until the patient becomes more proficient at equalization.
When the required pressure is reached the patient feels no differently than at normal atmospheric pressure.
After therapy some patients experience brief dizziness or a popping, clicking or fullness in the ears. This condition arises from residual pressure in the middle ear, again similar to experience while in an aircraft. As the pressure is reduced the condition dissipates.
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EFFECTIVE FOR TREATING DIABETIC WOUNDS
A wide range of ailments has proven to be effectively treated with HBOT. These include, hard to heal wounds such as diabetic foot, compromised amputation sites, non-healing traumatic wounds and ulcers caused by poor circulation. All of these wounds share the common problem of low oxygen level in surrounding tissue.
Diabetic foot and lower extremity wounds are one of the major complications of diabetes and an excellent example of the type of complicated wounds, which can be treated successfully with HBOT.
Many diabetics suffer circulatory disorders that result in inadequate levels of oxygen to support healing.
Nearly 50% of all non-traumatic lower extremity amputations are due to diabetes. The personal and economic costs of this problem are staggering. The cost to the health care system amounts to millions of dollars annually for amputation, ensuing medical care and rehabilitation.
"HBOT Clinics Inc. provides treatment to patients referred by their doctor."
The good news is, therapy costs are fully covered by Alberta Health care for those who qualify. A medical assessment can determine your qualification.
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SUCCESS CAN BE PREDICTED
Once a patient has been successfully screened, a further test called a TCOM is performed. The TCOM test will predict the success of HBOT for the individual case by measuring the oxygen absorption in the tissue surrounding a wound. This test takes about 90 minutes.
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YOUR DOCTOR CAN REFER YOU
You may ask your doctor whether HBOT should be part of your treatment plan. HBOT Clinics Inc. provides treatment to patients referred by their doctor and is situated in Calgary.
All HBO therapy is covered by the CHR when positive diagnosis is determined. For further information you may contact the clinic directly at (403) 509-4740 or toll free at 1-877-649-8046.
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