The coronavirus disease pandemic of 2019 has resulted in an increase in the number of people who have a wide spectrum of persistent symptoms known as “long COVID.” The persons who are affected are known as “long haulers,” and the condition is also known as long COVID, post-COVID-19 syndrome, and post-acute COVID-19 syndrome.
Neurocognitive impairment and tiredness are two of the symptoms. Hypercoagulability, which raises the likelihood of blood vessel blockage, and an uncontrolled continuous inflammatory response are two possible reasons for these long-term unrelenting symptoms. There is currently no known treatment for extended COVID. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is one of the possibilities for reversing hypoxia, reducing neuroinflammation, and inducing neuroplasticity.
In one case study named: “Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for long coronavirus disease-19: a case report“, the authors of the case study provided the first case report of a previously healthy athlete who developed long-term COVID syndrome and was successfully treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Long COVID – what are the symptoms and how long does it last
The term “long Covid” refers to the symptoms of Covid-19 that last for weeks or months after the initial illness. Long Covid is defined as symptoms that remain longer than 12 weeks, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), while other people consider symptoms that stay longer than eight weeks to be long Covid. Long Covid is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “usually 3 months from the onset of Covid-19 with symptoms that last for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis.”
COVID-19 symptoms can sometimes persist for months. The virus can damage the lungs, heart and brain, which increases the risk of long-term health problems.
Mayo Clinic
COVID-19 symptoms can last for weeks or months in older persons and people with a variety of serious medical issues, but even young, otherwise healthy people can feel ill for weeks or months following infection. The following are some of the most common long-term indications and symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Cough
- Joint pain
- Chest pain
- Memory, concentration or sleep problems
- Muscle pain or headache
- Fast or pounding heartbeat
- Loss of smell or taste
- Depression or anxiety
- Fever
- Dizziness when you stand
- Worsened symptoms after physical or mental activities
Safety and Efficacy of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as an adjuvant treatment for Long COVID Syndrome
In order to backup empirical evidence of HBOT’s efficacy in treating post-COVID symptoms, the international hyperbaric community has launched several clinical trials in Iran, the United States, Italy, China and Israel to show that HBOT relieves Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 by reducing inflammation, rejuvenating hypoxic organs, restoring lung function by increasing the capacity, improving cognitive function and boost the energy level.
One of the studies was a randomised controlled trial published in Emerg Med J (Emergency medicine journal : EMJ.), named Hyperbaric oxygen as an adjuvant treatment for patients with COVID-19 severe hypoxaemia: a randomised controlled trial
This was a multicentre, open-label randomised controlled trial conducted in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between July and November 2020. Patients with COVID-19 and severe hypoxaemia (SpO2 ≤90% despite oxygen supplementation) were assigned to receive either HBO2 treatment or the standard treatment for respiratory symptoms for 7 days. HBO2 treatment was planned for 5 or more sessions (1 /day) for 90 min at 1.4 atmosphere absolute (ATA). Outcomes were time to normalise oxygen requirement to SpO2 ≥93%, need for mechanical respiratory assistance, development of acute respiratory distress syndrome and mortality within 30 days. A sample size of 80 patients was estimated, with a planned interim analysis after determining outcomes on 50% of patients.
Conclusion: “Our findings support the safety and efficacy of HBO2 in the treatment of COVID-19 and severe hypoxaemia.“
Source: Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for long coronavirus disease-19: a case report
In another case study mentioned above:
“A previously healthy 55-year-old Caucasian man presented 3 months after severe coronavirus disease 2019 infection with long COVID syndrome. His symptoms included a decline in memory, multitasking abilities, energy, breathing, and physical fitness. After evaluation that included brain perfusion magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, computerized cognitive tests, and cardiopulmonary test, he was treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Evaluation after completing the treatment showed significant improvements in brain perfusion and microstructure by magnetic resonance imaging and significant improvement in memory with the most dominant effect being on nonverbal memory, executive functions, attention, information procession speed, cognitive flexibility, and multitasking. The improved cognitive functions correlated with the increased cerebral blood flow in brain regions as measured by perfusion magnetic resonance imaging. With regard to physical capacity, there was a 34% increase in the maximum rate of oxygen consumed during exercise and a 44% improvement in forced vital capacity. The improved physical measurements correlated with the regain of his pre-COVID physical capacity.”
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for long coronavirus disease-19: a case report
We at OxyNova Hyperbaric have our own success stories, which our clients and partners routinely share with us. Our Hyperbaric Chambers coincide with the standards of the systems use in clinical environments and are also safe for non-medical treatment.
How can mild hyperbaric therapy help
Our chambers have been shown to be effective as an adjuvant treatment for a variety of symptoms, including:
- Brain fog
- Extreme fatigue
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Weakness
- Wounds from blood clots while on ventilator
- Cardiac conditions
- Tremors
- Persistent cough, and
- Loss of taste.
He have successfully treated a couple of Covid & post-Covid patients. Quite amazing change happened, they had significantly improved after only two sessions.
Markus Roth – OxyNova owner
Treatments using hyperbaric oxygen therapy have a long history of success in treating hypoxia, and they are now showing promising results in the treatment of Long COVID. Another example of timely innovation in healthcare today is this innovative application of an old medicine.
