Aging is one of the inevitable consequences of being alive. All living things begin aging as soon as they are born and after a time an increase in age leads to various signs of physical deterioration.
Nobody enjoys the wrinkling of the skin, the whitening of the hair, and the other little signs of aging that we see in the mirror every morning, but we accept it as inevitable. We hear the ticking of the clock but tell ourselves that there is nothing that we can do about it.
In recent years, the anti-aging industry has been growing by leaps and bounds. Advancements in science and technology have led to the emergence of numerous products, therapies, and surgeries, which promise to help us retain our youthful appearance. From hair dyes and cosmetic injections to anti-wrinkle creams and plastic surgery, there is no dearth of individuals and companies selling the so-called “secrets of anti-aging”.
Modern Medicine and Anti-Aging Interventions
However, the truth is that no external or superficial remedy can stop or reverse the biological clock. Aging is natural and perhaps even desirable but some of its diminishing effects can be arrested and controlled through therapeutic intervention that rejuvenates the body internally. While cosmetics and other external remedies only have a temporary effect, it is not impossible to stop – or at least significantly delay – the worst effects of aging with the help of modern medical procedures.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is known to provide anti-aging benefits through the regeneration and healing of damaged cells. HBOT is administered through a medical device known as the hyperbaric chamber, and it aims to increase the flow of oxygen in the body of the patient, thus promoting and facilitating the process of angiogenesis. This, in turn, helps significantly slow down the process of aging over the long term.
An Overview of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
For an HBOT session to take place, the patient must enter an enclosed compartment known as the hyperbaric chamber. This chamber consists of a mattress, a medicine cabinet, and a clear, transparent, but sealed window through which the patient can look outside, and the medical professionals supervising the session can check up on the person inside the chamber. The patient can enter the hyperbaric chamber with a book or any other form of entertainment, or may simply choose to spend the duration of the therapy session taking a nap.
Inside the chamber, 100 percent pure oxygen is administered to the patient at heightened atmospheric pressure levels, often between 1.2 to 5 times the normal atmospheric pressure at sea level. This pressurized oxygen is immediately absorbed into the bodily fluids of the individual, ensuring that the supply of oxygen in the person’s body is significantly increased, oftentimes nearly fifteen times the regular tissue saturation.
Bodily fluids such as plasma and the spinal fluid carry the excess oxygen to all parts of the body, even the areas where the flow of blood may have been restricted, leading to oxygen deprivation. Each cell of the body is also saturated with pure oxygen, which in turn helps enhance the natural healing processes and slows down the process of aging, by immediately repairing any internal damage or degradation.
Moreover, hyperbaric therapy plays a role in kick-starting the antioxidant defenses of the human body, facilitating metabolism, suppressing inflammation, and counteracting oxidative stress. HBOT also improves blood flow by maintaining the flexibility of cell membranes, makes the oxygen-transporting hemoglobin more efficient, and detoxifies the body by killing microorganisms that thrive in low-oxygen environs. For these reasons, medical professionals regularly prescribe HBOT for treating age-related illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis and stroke.
Hyperbaric Therapy and Anti-Aging Medicine
Regular hyperbaric sessions can help delay the process of aging. Spending sixty to ninety minutes inside a hyperbaric chamber regularly can help improve skin elasticity, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, and enhance the recovery process after reconstructive surgery by stimulating the production of collagen inside the body.
According to various studies, the cell chromosomes shorten progressively every time a cell divides, until they can get no shorter and stop dividing altogether, causing the cell to die.
Stressors such as alcohol and drugs can shorten the lifespan of the cells and hence cause premature aging. Such stressors create areas of low blood flow and oxygenation in the brain, which results in stunted or decreased neurological functioning. The increased supply of oxygen in the brain and other parts of the body can solve this problem by increasing the lifespan of the existing cells and facilitating the regeneration of damaged ones.
In Conclusion
Mentioned above are some of the reasons why various celebrities, including professional actors and athletes, are buying portable hyperbaric chambers to partake in regular HBOT sessions no matter where they are. Many physicians and medical professionals are recommending the use of HBOT as an alternative anti-aging therapy for all sections of the population.
