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THE CONCUSSION CENTRE

HBOT

HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY IS A MEDICAL TREATMENT WHICH ENHANCES THE BODY'S NATURAL HEALING PROCESSES BY INHALATION OF 100% OXYGEN IN A TOTAL BODY CHAMBER, WHERE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE IS INCREASED AND CONTROLLED. IT IS USED FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF TREATMENTS USUALLY AS PART OF AN OVERALL MEDCIAL CARE PLAN. 


UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, OXYGEN IS TRANSPORTED THROUGHOUT THE BODY ONLY BY RED BLOOD CELLS. WITH HBOT, OXYGEN IS DISSOLVED INTO ALL OF THE BODY'S FLUIDS, THE PLASMA, THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM FLUIDS, THE LYMPH, AND THE BONE AND CAN BE CARRIED TO AREAS WHERE CIRCULATION IS DIMINISHED OR BLOCKED. 


IN THIS WAY, EXTRA OXYGEN CAN REACH ALL OF THE DAMAGED TISSUES AND THE BODY CAN SUPPORT ITS OWN HEALING PROCESS. THE INCREASED OXYGEN GREATLY ENHANCES THE ABILITY OF WHITE BLOOD CELLS TO KILL BACTERIA, REDUCES SWELLING AND ALLOWS NEW BLOOD VESSELS TO GROW MORE RAPIDLY.


IT IS A SIMPLE, NON-INVASIVE TREATMENT.


CONCUSSION IS A MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.  POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME TAKES PLACE WHEN SYMPTOMS SUCH AS HEADACHE AND DIZZINESS LAST FOR WEEKS MAYBE EVEN MONTHS AFTER THE INJURY THAT CAUSED THE CONCUSSION TAKES PLACE.  POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME MAY INCLUDE: NOISE AND LIGHT SENSITIVITY, HEADACHES, FATIGUE, DIZZINESS, IRRITABILITY, INSOMNIA, ANXIETY AND LOSS OF CONCENTRATION AND MEMORY.  IF CONFUSION AND/OR AMNESIA TAKE PLACE MEDICAL ATTENTION IS REQUIRED.


NO PHYSICAL INJURY CAN HEAL WITHOUT OXYGEN, AND THE SAME APPLIES FOR THE BRAIN. HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY ALLOWS A PATIENT TO BREATHE 100% OXYGEN (AS OPPOSED TO AIR FROM THE ATMOSPHERE, WHICH IS 21% OXYGEN AND 79% NITROGEN) IN A PRESSURIZED CHAMBER, WHICH CREATES A HIGHER CONCENTRATION OF OXYGEN IN THE BLOODSTREAM, WHICH CAN IMPROVE CIRCULATION TO IMPAIRED BRAIN AREAS.


AN ARTICLE FROM THE DIVISION OF NEUROSURGERY AT LINDA LOMA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT MANY BRAIN INJURIES RESULT IN REDUCED BLOOD SUPPLY TO AFFECTED TISSUES, WHICH CAN IMPAIR BRAIN FUNCTION. INCREASING THE CONCENTRATION OF OXYGEN IN THE BLOODSTREAM CAN HELP REPAIR DAMAGED TISSUE, AND REDUCE SWELLING AND INFLAMMATION.


TYPICALLY, THE STANDARD APPROACH FOR TREATING CONCUSSIONS INVOLVES A GREAT DEAL OF WAITING. CONCUSSED INDIVIDUALS ARE TOLD TO GET COGNITIVE REST AND NOT OVER-STIMULATE THE BRAIN BY USING THE PHONE AND COMPUTER.  AFTER A CONCUSSION, THE INDIVIDUAL WILL FREQUENTLY COMPLAIN OF HEADACHES AND INSOMNIA, AND OFTEN PRIVATELY STRUGGLE WITH ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND POOR ACADEMIC/WORK PERFORMANCE DUE TO IMPAIRED BRAIN FUNCTION. STANDARD TREATMENTS MAY ALSO INVOLVE MEDICATION, WHICH CAN PRODUCE UNDESIRABLE SIDE EFFECTS.


THANKFULLY, HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND HAS MINIMAL SIDE EFFECTS. BY COMPARING THE RISKS OF TREATING VERSUS NOT TREATING YOURSELF FOR A CONCUSSION, IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT BEING PROACTIVE IS ESSENTIAL. WHILE CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS MAY IMPROVE THROUGH SIMPLY RESTING, THEY COULD ALSO WORSEN. AS YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR POST-CONCUSSION TREATMENT, ASK YOURSELF: ARE YOU WILLING TO DEAL WITH THE PERSISTENT EFFECTS OF HEAD INJURY?


WHILE THE SHORT TERM SYMPTOMS OF CONCUSSIONS SUCH AS DIZZINESS AND HEADACHES MAY NOT SEEM SERIOUS, LONG-TERM PROBLEMS SUCH AS DEMENTIA-LIKE SYMPTOMS AND ADVANCED AGING OF BRAIN TISSUE ARE NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. BRAIN INJURIES THAT GO UNTREATED HAVE ALSO BEEN LINKED TO LEARNING DISABILITIES, SOCIAL AND RELATIONSHIP ISSUES, LOW SELF-ESTEEM, DEPRESSION, AND ALCOHOLISM. WHAT WE SEE AS HEADACHES NOW COULD PRESENT THEMSELVES AS PROBLEMS THAT ARE SERIOUS AND DIFFICULT TO TREAT IN THE FUTURE.

OUR CHAMBERS

To ensure our patients the highest level of safety and comfort, we have chosen to facilitate our centre with five, State-of-the-Art, 36" Perry Baromedical Hyperbaric Chambers; a world leader in the manufacture, installation, and service of hyperbaric oxygen therapy systems since 1956. The chambers are regularly maintained, hospital grade equipment, certified and regulated by the Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA) and Health Canada. Our lead hyperbaric technician is the only Certified Hyperbaric Service Technician for Perry Baromedical Chambers in Canada.


Other key features include:


  1. Highly trained, friendly & understanding hyperbaric chamber technicians
  2. Cool and quiet treatment in individual mono-place chambers
  3. Chamber mattresses, pillows and linens have been custom made using organic and non-off gassing products and materials (No VOCs)
  4. Each chamber is cleaned and linens are changed after every treatment
  5. Two-way communication system to allow for constant patient to technician contact
  6. Spacious 36" internal acryllic cylinder - previous patients with Claustrophobia are able to cope with the environment
  7. Certified for patients up to 500lbs
  8. Personal 24" flat screen TV with CD and DVD features per chamber
  9. No "hoods" required; allows ease of movement
  10. Extra-wide stretched with patient safety handrails