Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and COVID Long Haulers

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and COVID Long Haulers

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and COVID Long Haulers

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As the pandemic drags on, the effects of the disease linger in a substantial number (between 10  to as much 30%) of patients for months. The vast majority of longhaulers test negative  for COVID-19, despite having lingering symptoms. A recent review appearing Physiological  Reports in February 2021 describes a significant role of tissue hypoxia and inflammation in  creating these lasting symptoms. This review suggests that blood vessel damage and impaired  oxygen delivery related to COVID-19 play a role in mood changes and cognitive difficulties that  people with the disease face during illness and recovery 

ARE YOU A LONG HAULER?  

The symptoms of long haulers syndrome persisting following “recovery” from COVID 19 include:

Persistent Cough Low grade fever Fatigue Shortness of breath Chest pain 

Headaches 

Neurocognitive difficulties Muscle pains 

Muscular weakness 

Gastrointestinal upset Rashes 

Metabolic disruption (such as poor control of diabetes) 

Sleep disruption Depression Other  mental health conditions 

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a safe and effective method to improve tissue oxygenation. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been demonstrated to  substantially attenuate inflammation throughout the body. HBOT drives increased  levels of oxygen into the body, which travels through the plasma, subsequently  reducing inflammation and pain.  

BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF HBOT IN THE TREATMENT OF COVID LONG  HAULERS SYNDROME 

  • Effects of Hypoxia and Inflammation in the Gut and Brain 
  • Decreases Fatigue 
  • Reduces the effects of depression brought about by hypoxia 
  • Enhances Stem Cell Mobilization and Proliferation 
  • Facilitates Neuroplasticity 
  • Improves Sleep Quality 
  • Preserves cellular metabolism 
  • Reverses the effects of ischemic reperfusion injury 
  • Enhances memory and mental performance 
  • Diminishes headaches 
  • Minimizes pain and discomfort 
  • Significantly improves physical, cognitive and mental health functioning 

Video: (Patients) https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/some-covid-19-long haulers-are-developing-a-devastating-syndrome-1.5415288 

 https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2145365&jwsource=em 

(1) Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials Newsletter, Infectious Disease, What it means to  be a Coronavirus “Long-Hauler” Jan 28,2021 

(2) Østergaard, Leif , SARS CoV-2 related microvascular damage and symptoms during  and after COVID-19: Consequences of capillary transit-time changes, tissue hypoxia  and inflammation, Physiological Reports. 2021;9:e14726.  

(3) Kjellberg, Anders et al, Can hyperbaric oxygen safely serve as an anti-inflammatory  treatment for COVID-19? , Med Hyp 144(2020)110224