http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2431-9-21.pdfBrain Injuries Recover with Hyperbaric Oxygen: Oxygen provided at increased atmospheric pressure easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and brings healing oxygen to anoxic (oxygen starved) tissue in the brain.
The Problem: Brain injuries caused by head injury or stroke cause anoxia to brain tissue from interrupted blood flow. Once anoxia occurs, the brain essentially "goes to sleep" and stops all neuron activity.
The brain injury interrupts blood flow to a larger area around the injury site increasing the area of the sleeping brain (penumbra) and stopping signal rerouting through the sleeping area of the brain.
Disruption of these signals can lead to seizures, motor function deficits (paralysis of limbs), speech deficits, sight disturbances, even involuntary functions like breathing and heartbeat.
How Does This Happen?
After brain injury, many blood capillaries around the area of injury become torn open.
The liquid part of the blood (the plasma) then leaks out causing a swelling that may be very extensive.
The swelling reduces blood flow in the affected areas of the brain.
Reduced blood flow means a reduction of essential nutrition (mostly oxygen), and a build up of waste products from local biochemical reactions (e.g. lactate and calcium), which shut down normal cell function and further block pathways.
Why Doesn't Capillary Healing Happen? Capillary healing requires oxygen
Unfortunately, the tiny tubules leading to the torn capillaries become clogged with red blood cells that carry oxygen preventing delivery.
Therefore the only thing continuing to flow is the oxygen poor plasma which adds to the swelling and further restricts circulation, oxygen delivery and capillary healing.
Oxygen, The New Growth Factor?
In recent years we have come to understand that oxygen is not only required to metabolize nutrients and start wound healing, but it is a critical growth factor in signaling the cells that sufficient oxygen is present to support healing. Non-healing wounds begin to heal. Two different groups of researchers have published data supporting oxygen as a growth factor. This has led to findings that once daily exposure to Hyperbaric Oxygen is optimal for wound healing.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7940149.stm
Brain Injuries Recover with Hyperbaric Oxygen:
Oxygen provided at increased atmospheric pressure easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and brings healing oxygen to anoxic (oxygen starved) tissue in the brain.
The Problem:
Brain injuries caused by head injury or stroke cause anoxia to brain tissue from interrupted blood flow. Once anoxia occurs, the brain essentially "goes to sleep" and stops all neuron activity.
The brain injury interrupts blood flow to a larger area around the injury site increasing the area of the sleeping brain (penumbra) and stopping signal rerouting through the sleeping area of the brain.
Disruption of these signals can lead to seizures, motor function deficits (paralysis of limbs), speech deficits, sight disturbances, even involuntary functions like breathing and heartbeat.
How Does This Happen?
After brain injury, many blood capillaries around the area of injury become torn open.
The liquid part of the blood (the plasma) then leaks out causing a swelling that may be very extensive.
The swelling reduces blood flow in the affected areas of the brain.
Reduced blood flow means a reduction of essential nutrition (mostly oxygen), and a build up of waste products from local biochemical reactions (e.g. lactate and calcium), which shut down normal cell function and further block pathways.
Why Doesn't Capillary Healing Happen?
Capillary healing requires oxygen
Unfortunately, the tiny tubules leading to the torn capillaries become clogged with red blood cells that carry oxygen preventing delivery.
Therefore the only thing continuing to flow is the oxygen poor plasma which adds to the swelling and further restricts circulation, oxygen delivery and capillary healing.
Oxygen, The New Growth Factor?
In recent years we have come to understand that oxygen is not only required to metabolize nutrients and start wound healing, but it is a critical growth factor in signaling the cells that sufficient oxygen is present to support healing. Non-healing wounds begin to heal. Two different groups of researchers have published data supporting oxygen as a growth factor. This has led to findings that once daily exposure to Hyperbaric Oxygen is optimal for wound healing.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7940149.stm