Each May, healthcare professionals across the country recognize Hyperbaric Awareness Month, an initiative led by the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) to educate the public on the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
If you’ve never heard of HBOT, you’re not alone—but it may be more relevant to your health than you realize.
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a medical treatment that involves breathing 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber. This significantly increases the amount of oxygen your blood can carry to injured tissues, which helps accelerate healing, fight infection, and reduce inflammation.
HBOT has been around for decades, but awareness is still limited among both patients and providers.
What Conditions Can HBOT Help Treat?
HBOT is used to treat a wide variety of conditions approved by the FDA and supported by medical guidelines, including:
- Chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers
- Radiation injuries from cancer treatment
- Chronic bone infections (osteomyelitis)
- Crush injuries and traumatic wounds
- Skin grafts and flaps at risk of tissue death
For a complete list, visit the UHMS resource page.
Is It Safe?
When administered by trained professionals, HBOT is a safe and well-tolerated therapy. Treatments are conducted under medical supervision, and patients typically report a relaxing, pressure-adjusted experience.
Why Awareness Matters
Many patients don’t discover HBOT until their condition has worsened, even though earlier intervention could mean faster recovery and fewer complications. That’s why Hyperbaric Awareness Month is so important. It gives healthcare teams a chance to share life and limb-changing information with the community—and to encourage proactive care.
Want to Learn More?
If you or a loved one is dealing with a chronic wound or complex medical condition, HBOT might be part of your healing journey.
Contact SAAK Health at 262 444 5148 or visit www.saakhealth.com to find out whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy is right for you.