In 2017, at Advanced Hyperbaric Recovery, a large number of our patients seen were effectively treated for traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
These are 2013 stats for Traumatic Brain Injuries in the United States:

•An estimated 2.8 million people sustain a TBI annually.
Of them:
• Nearly 50,000 people die,
• 282,000 are hospitalized, and
• 2.5 million, nearly 80%, are treated and released from an emergency department (EDs).
• TBI is a contributing factor to a third (30%) of all injury-related deaths in the United States. (1)

• In 2012, an estimated 329,290 children (age 19 or younger) were treated in U.S. EDs for sports and recreation-related injuries that included a diagnosis of concussion or TBI.(2)
• From 2001 to 2012, the rate of ED visits for sports and recreation-related injuries with a diagnosis of concussion or TBI, alone or in combination with other injuries, more than doubled among children (age 19 or younger).(2)

A Brain Injury consists of a range of life events that compromise the health and function of our brain. A few examples are:

• dementia
• cognitive impairment
• near drowning
• autism
• cerebral palsy
• epilepsy
• traumatic brain injury
• stroke

In this Newsletter, we will explore the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for those with traumatic brain injuries.

What is Traumatic Brain Injury?

Traumatic brain injury, often referred to as TBI, is very different than most other acute events or injuries. One moment the person is normal and the next moment life has abruptly changed.

Since our brain defines who we are, the consequences of a brain injury can affect all aspects of our lives, including our personality.

Most brain injuries do not heal like other injuries such as a broken limb or punctured lung which most often heal and regain their previous function.
TBI can result in physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral symptoms, and outcome can range from complete recovery to permanent disability or death.
Symptoms may appear right away or may not be present for days or weeks after the injury. Symptoms range from the more acute to mild. More acute with loss of consciousness and paralysis, psychosis, depression, neurological impairment to mild occurrences, where the patient often doesn’t know they have experienced a trauma at first.

image credit; www.modup.net/
One of the consequences of brain injury is that the person often does not realize that a brain injury has occurred. (3) Symptoms can also overlap with migraine symptoms as well as symptoms that may be confused for behavioral issues in younger populations.

Symptoms of TBI range from mild to moderate, then severe. Medical Practitioners will use the Glasgow Coma Scale “GCS” (4), for estimating and categorizing the outcomes of brain injury via a scale of 1-15. The GCS score is determined by measuring values of Motor response, Verbal response and Eye opening and adding them up as the basis of overall social capability or dependence on others.
Glasgow Coma Scale in (parenthesis)

• MIld TBI; (13-15). Typically defined as a head injury with a temporary loss of brain function. Symptoms may include headache, trouble with thinking, memory, or concentration, nausea, blurry vision, sleep disturbances, or mood changes. Some symptoms may begin immediately, while other may appear days after the injury. Fewer than 10% of sports-related concussions among children are associated with loss of consciousness. It is not unusual for symptoms to last up to four weeks.
• Moderate TBI; (9-12). Loss of consciousness greater than 30 minutes. Physical or cognitive impairments which may or may resolve. Benefit from Rehabilitation
• Severe TBI; (3-8). Coma: unconscious state. No meaningful response, no voluntary activities

by Harch P, Fogarty E, Staab P, Van Meter K
Improved Brain Flow pattern with HBOT
Dr. Paul Harch tells us that “hyperbaric oxygen therapy
is a treatment for wounds in the body at any location.” (5)
We now know that even years later, HBOT will be effective.
Doctor Harch has been doing research for treating wounds
in the brain for almost 30 years.

Brain SPECT scan of a traumatic brain injury
before and after Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment

DEFINITION

The application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be traced to clinical practice and research in South Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana. It is well known that the practice of HBOT in chronic neurological conditions was pioneered by the late Dr. Richard Neubauer in the 1970s.

For more information visit HBOT in the Treatment of Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is an effective method of treatment.

• Reduces cerebral edema and any swelling to the body (in sports or other related head injury (6)
• Reduces neuroinflammation (7)
• Increases oxygen saturation to the brain (8)
• Promotes new blood vesel growth (Angiogenesis)(9)
• Can create a 8-fold increase in your own stem cell production (10)
• Reactivates idling neurons within the most oxygen-deficient areas of the brain

Because insurance and Medicare does not cover HBOT for bain injury, HBOT is considered “Off-Label and investigational.”

Recovery is defined as “functional recovery,” which deals with issues associated with “functioning” or the performance of daily activities that are required for self-maintenance (earning an income and maintaining a residence), as well as social activities, based on mechanisms that remain uncertain. No two brain injuries are alike and the consequence of two similar injuries may be very different.

If YOU or anyone in your family, your medical practice,
OR anyone in your life might be a candidate for relief with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Please consider this remarkable medicine today.
Call us today for more information or to schedule a consultation with our Medical Hyperbaric Physician!
who only consults with the patient for indications, contra-indications and the feasibility of doing Medical Grade Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

415-785-8652

Jacqueline S. Chan, DO
Physician, Medical Director

Dr Jacqueline S. Chan, DO is Board Certified in Family Practice, Board Certified in Holistic Medicine, Board Certified in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine, including Osteopathic Medical Board of California.

Call for an appointment with Dr. Chan
415-785-8652