Parkinson’s disease is the disorder of the central nervous system that impairs motor skills, speech and other mental functions. It is a chronic and progressive movement disorder which means that that symptoms continue and deteriorate over time. Nearly one million people in United States are living with Parkinson's disease. It's cause is unknown, and although there is no cure presently, there exists some treatment options such as medication and surgery to manage its symptoms. It involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells or neurons in the brain’s substantia nigra. It belongs to a group called movement disorders which typically produce muscle rigidity, tremor and a general slowing of physical movement. It affects adults of all ages but is not fatal. However, late‐stage Parkinson’s may lead to pneumonia or choking, both of which can cause death or disability
What Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment can do
The symptoms of Parkinson’s can vary in type and severity thus it can be difficult to predict results. Often Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment has been discovered effective accidently as in the case where a diabetic patient tried Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for ulcers on foot and found that the treatment vastly improved his Parkinson’s symptoms.
After 30 years of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment we do know that it will not worsen Parkinson Disease. Numerous animal studies have shown that Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment works as an anti ‐ inflammatory and may be used in this way to alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson Disease.
Why is Parkinson’s Disease amenable to oxygen therapy?
Research on animals has demonstrated a non ‐ specific chronic inflammatory condition in the brain. Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment has been shown to be an anti ‐ inflammatory drug in various conditions. There exists enough evidence of many patients with well-established Parkinson Disease have been treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for other conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers. A patient with advanced Parkinson Disease confined to a wheelchair may get up and walk across the room after a series of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment.
Benefits expected from Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for Parkinson’s Disease
Since every patient is different it is hard to predict the result in each individual case. Twenty years of experience have proven that Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment is safe. The normal course of oxygen therapy is once daily, five days a week for eight weeks. If a significant response is noted after 40 Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment additional treatments may be helpful.
Comments