‘November, 2022’ Archive

Symptoms of long COVID:

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is now a method to help patients alleviate symptoms from Long Covid. According to the CDC, 2022, Nearly 1 in 5 American Adults Who Have Had COVID-19 Still Have “Long Covid”, 19% of Americans suffer from “long COVID,” or “long-haul covid” after contracting COVID-19. After contracting COVID-19, and getting negative results, people can experience lingering symptoms for weeks or even months. Long covid can come with complicated symptoms, depending on the individual. Symptoms can include tiredness/fatigue, malaise, fever, cough, or chest pain. Some neurological symptoms can include headaches, anxiety, brain fog, frustration, difficulty sleeping, and change in smell or taste. Some people experience diarrhea and stomach problems. Having COVID-19 can also affect different organs and include many body systems.

Dr. Chan from Advanced Hyperbaric Recovery Inc. has become a leader in successfully treating patients with lingering or long COVID symptoms, she states, “In my clinical experience, applying a whole-body systems approach is the key to the solution.” HBOT is a whole body and even a cellular approach. HBOT is now being used as a long term solution to complications from COVID-19 long haul symptoms.

HBOT reduces inflammation in the body and brain. It is also shown to increase energy, especially in those who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. Covid-19 impacts the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, disrupting its ATP generation and functioning. As shown in this randomized, controlled study Zilberman-Itskovich, S., Catalogna, M., Sasson, E. et al. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves neurocognitive functions and symptoms of post-COVID condition: randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep 12, 11252 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15565-0, found that “…HBOT can induce neuroplasticity and improve cognitive, psychiatric, fatigue, sleep and brain symptoms of patients suffering from post-COVID-19 conditions…HBOT also improved pain interference.”

The patient relaxes inside a hard hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and breathes 100% medical grade oxygen. Scientists are still uncertain what causes long COVID, but it is theorized that COVID-19 causes tissue hypoxia (low oxygen levels) for a long period of time. According to this study, Robbins T, Gonevski M, Clark C, Baitule S, Sharma K, Magar A, Patel K, Sankar S, Kyrou I, Ali A, Randeva HS. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of long COVID: early evaluation of a highly promising intervention. Clin Med (Lond). 2021 Nov;21(6):e629-e632. doi: 10.7861/clinmed.2021-0462. PMID: 34862223; PMCID: PMC8806311., “HBOT has a possible positive effect on the long COVID-related symptoms of fatigue and ‘brain fog.’ These results match with the clinical and qualitative observations of patients receiving the therapy, many of whom report their lives have been “transformed” for the better.

Susan B from San Francisco suffered from long COVID neuroinflammation. Susan wrote, “The oxygenation of HBOT helped drive healing into my cranium, reducing the swelling and getting me back on my feet. The team at Advanced Hyperbaric Recovery of Marin is professional, supportive and well-trained. This is a loving space for deep healing. Highly recommended!” Medical Grade HBOT at Advanced Hyperbaric Recovery was able to reduce her long COVID symptoms, and change her life for the better.

HBOT is available as a healing tool for those recovering from long COVID to improve quality of life. If you or a loved one is suffering from long COVID, we are conveniently located in San Rafael, serving the North Bay and beyond. For more information, please call us at 415-785-8652 and our highly trained staff can answer your questions on how you may be able to improve your quality of life with HBOT.