How does a dive in a hyperbaric chamber take place?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a very interesting therapy to induce brain plasticity . In this article, I offer you a short video to show you concretely the course of a session (which is also called " diving ") in a hyperbaric chamber. Subtitles are available for the hearing impaired.
Video Transcript:
Preparation for diving in the hyperbaric chamber
Hello everyone, in this short video, I show you concretely what a hyperbaric oxygen therapy session looks like, which you can do at home.
First of all, before entering the hyperbaric chamber, I turn on the compressors. Their role is to recover the ambient air from my room and inject it into the hyperbaric chamber.
Next, I turn on my oxygen concentrator. Its role is to take the ambient air from my room, extract the oxygen from it and provide me with this 100% pure oxygen in my mask.
Since synthetic clothing is not recommended during hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions, I wear 100% cotton clothing. The same goes for electronic devices that use lithium batteries.
I enter the hyperbaric chamber and close the safety clips. Once that's done, I close the 2 zippers that keep the hyperbaric chamber watertight. And I settle in comfortably while it starts to inflate.
Increased pressure in the hyperbaric chamber
My hyperbaric chamber will slowly inflate. When it is done, I gradually close the tap that was letting the air escape to the outside.
My box is then sealed and as the compressors work non-stop, the internal pressure will then increase gradually. When I feel a little pressure at the level of my ears, I balance by swallowing or pinching my nose.
Maximum pressure reached
When the pressure is at its maximum, I put on my oxygen mask, I start the countdown and I'm off for a dive of about 1 hour. It's my little time to myself, so I take advantage of it to read, to rest, to meditate...
During the dive, you will be required to remove the oxygen mask for several minutes. And then you will have to put it back on. Depending on the protocol you follow, you will have to remove it and replace it 2 or 3 times during the session.
Lowering the pressure in the hyperbaric chamber
After an hour, the dive is over. It is time to lower the internal pressure. To do this, I slowly open the valve that lets the air escape from the hyperbaric chamber. The pressure drops gradually. I balance my ears a little.
That's it! I open the zippers, remove the safety clips and I can turn off my oxygen concentrator and compressors.