The 60 minutes Nora Lieberman spent in her hyperbaric oxygen chamber were rejuvenating.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was different, she said.
She could feel the difference.
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I could breathe better, both in the chamber and after my sessions, Lieberman told Verywell.
Right away, I knew this was helping me.
But because the treatments can be pricey and difficult to access, her experience was short-lived.
What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Throughout a session, patients may take a break to breathe normally every 20 minutes.
This allows for the body to optimize its use of available oxygen.
Ultimately, this can contribute to healing within tissues and improved breathing.
Why Does It Help Long Covid?
Efrati coauthored a recent study in Israel that evaluated the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen for patients with long COVID.
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Efrati compares long COVIDs impact on the brain to a wound that needs to recover.
Wound recovery is gradual, and most dont heal within a day.
But, once the wound heals, thats it, he added.
There is no need for additional treatment.
Still, whether or not study participants will maintain benefits forever has yet to be seen.
Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Available Now?
Her treatment was paired with light therapy and cryotherapy, which were not part of the Israeli study.
For Lieberman, the treatment was more than just temporary relief.
Benefits seemed to build upon each other after each appointment.
Itschaosto not know whats happening inside, Lieberman said.
When something works even a little bit, you come back for more.
But she couldnt come forever.
I would have kept going indefinitely, Lieberman said.
But I dont have access to the treatment anymore.
She said she could not find a hyperbaric treatment provider anywhere in the D.C. area.
She did not use insurance and paid completely out of pocket.
According to Efrati, the main limitation to his study was that it was the first.
Efrati describes his studys chambers as small airplane-sized structures that fit about 12 people.
She does not credit all her progress to the therapy, though she said it made a noticeable impact.
Im focusing on gratitude and taking things one day at a time.
But overall, Im trending better.
What This Means For You
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may benefit patients with long COVID.
But its difficult to access.
The treatment is currently FDA-approved for other conditions, but not specifically long COVID.
For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
Food and Drug Administration.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: get the facts.
doi:10.1038/s41598-022-15565-0
Hadanny A, Efrati S.The hyperoxic-hypoxic paradox.Biomolecules.
2020;10(6):958. doi:10.3390/biom10060958
