Long COVID is also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). It plagues countless people who have already recovered from an earlier COVID-19 infection. Symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath, can linger for months. One potential treatment being investigated for Long Covid is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).
HBOT is a therapeutic procedure that is used to treat many conditions. These ailments include decompression sickness seen in scuba divers, carbon monoxide poisoning, diabetic foot, etc.
In HBOT, the body is exposed to 100% oxygen, far above the 21% percentage we breathe normally. The therapy is performed in a sealed chamber where the air pressure is raised above normal levels. Bringing oxygen under high-pressure and high-oxygen conditions maximizes oxygen into the body's tissues.
Many people with Long COVID cannot use oxygen properly. HBOT saturates the blood with oxygen, which may help relieve symptoms like fatigue and cognitive impairment.
Long COVID is induced by oxidative stress. By decreasing oxidative stress, HBOT is thought to enhance health overall and alleviate symptoms.
Research has proved HBOT effectively promotes a prodigious quality of life for long-term COVID patients. It may help with sleep and reduce heart palpitations, for example.
There have been several systematic reviews into the effectiveness of HBOT for Long COVID. The majority of studies showed that HBOT is capable of alleviating symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive impairments, and neuropsychiatric symptoms.
RCTs are underway to define ideal protocols and assess the longer-term benefits of HBOT for Long COVID. Initial indications are promising, with improved cardiopulmonary function and quality of life.
HBOT has also had the potential to alleviate symptoms such as debilitating fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath. Patients describe increased energy and mental clarity following HBOT.