How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Improve Blood Flow, Brain Health and Aging Outcomes

Last Updated July 3, 2025

Blood circulation is one of the most important functions in our bodies.

Without the circulation system, the brain, heart, and other vital organs couldn’t receive the oxygen we need to function properly and survive. Good circulation keeps your mind sharp, your heart strong, and can even give your complexion a youthful flush. It is vital to staying strong, healthy, and energetic throughout your life.

However, the aging process can slow the flow of blood throughout the body. This can cause all manner of health problems and leave you feeling tired, sluggish, and weak. Fortunately, there are ways to combat poor circulation caused by the aging process. An innovative treatment protocol based on hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been clinically proven to improve the flow of blood throughout the body and can even promote the creation of new blood vessels in the brain and other vital organs.

So, how does hyperbaric oxygen therapy work to improve blood flow?

How Aging Impacts Blood Circulation and Overall Health

As we age, the number of blood vessels in our bodies naturally decreases. Blood vessels are a critical part of the circulation system through which our organs receive oxygen to work properly. As smaller, tinier blood vessels naturally die off, organs no longer receive as much oxygen as they once did.

For the brain, losing circulation and not getting enough oxygen can mean losing cognitive function. You may experience brain fog or memory problems. It can be small things, such as struggling to remember where you put your keys, to more extensive neurological problems like vascular dementia.

But our brains aren’t the only organs affected by poor circulation. A lack of blood flow can affect every part of the body. In men, a lack of blood flow can lead to erectile dysfunction or other problems with sexual health. Poor circulation can also lead to tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, muscle cramps, or swelling and pain in the limbs. It can leave you feeling sluggish and sleepy, or even leave your skin dry and discolored due to the lack of oxygen.

How can you combat the restricted blood flow caused by aging?

 

 

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and Blood Flow: How it Works

Angiogenesis: New Blood Vessels for Better Oxygenation

At one time, scientists believed that the blood vessels lost to aging were gone forever. New research has revealed otherwise. Studies have demonstrated that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) can directly improve blood flow. During an HBOT session, patients breathe 100% oxygen in a high-pressure environment, like the multiplace HBOT suites used at Aviv Clinics.

If hyperbaric oxygen therapy is delivered using a specific protocol, the increased levels of oxygen in the body can promote a process called angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the growth of new blood vessels in the body. This process increases blood flow, helping deliver vital oxygen to organs that have been slowed by age, illness, or other conditions. Angiogenesis can rejuvenate and repair your body, and the scientifically proven benefits are promising.

Cognitive Benefits: What Better Circulation Means for Your Brain

Because angiogenesis rebuilds blood vessels, it directly promotes improved circulation in all parts of the body. In the brain, improved circulation can lead to improved cognitive function.

HBOT was shown to directly benefit the cognitive performance of patients who had all suffered a stroke up to 36 months before the research study and had at least one motor dysfunction. Patients who received a two-month protocol of HBOT treatment experienced significant improvements to their neurological functions. In some of the most dramatic results, patients regained their ability to speak, their ability to read and write, and some even regained function in paretic limbs.

It’s not just stroke patients who can benefit from angiogenesis. More studies reveal how increased blood flow can improve brain function in healthy older adults. SPECT imaging scans of patients’ brains before and after HBOT treatment reveal significant improvements to cerebral blood flow and improved function in different areas of the brain.

The results? These improvements directly correlate to increased attention spans, higher information processing speed, and improved executive function.

Whole-Body Wellness: Energy, Vigor, and Healing Through Angiogenesis

The angiogenesis produced by HBOT can help more than just your brain. Angiogenesis can benefit your entire body. Good circulation can increase energy levels and leave you feeling more youthful and active. You may find yourself up for more vigorous physical activities, and even increased sexual activity.

In one published study, 30 men with erectile dysfunction saw significant positive outcomes thanks to the increased blood flow from angiogenesis. The men, who averaged around 59 years of age, all reported greater overall sexual satisfaction after undergoing HBOT. Women may also benefit from improved circulation, since female arousal and sexual satisfaction also depend on proper blood flow.

Other benefits of having good circulation can include faster wound healing and more youthful-looking skin, since angiogenesis promotes tissue regeneration. Good blood flow affects every aspect of your life, keeping you healthy and strong. Undergoing HBOT programs like the unique, evidence-based protocol available at Aviv Clinics, can directly promote good circulation throughout the body.

The Aviv Difference: A Personalized Program for Lasting Results

While research indicates that HBOT can produce amazing results on its own, at Aviv Clinics, we emphasize the importance of treating the whole body. Having a poor diet and living a sedentary lifestyle can contribute to poor circulation and worsen the effects of aging. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential for the benefits of HBOT to last. Think of it as doing maintenance on a car after undergoing an extensive series of repairs.

This is why our clients are supported by a multidisciplinary team of professionals. Our physicians prescribe a personalized Aviv Medical Program for each client, depending on that client’s health history, conditions, and lifestyle. In addition to a unique, evidence-based hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocol, clients may also be prescribed cognitive exercises, physical training, nutritional counseling or other therapies. At the end of the Aviv Medical Program, clients are well-equipped with the tools they need to keep the benefits of good circulation.

Contact us to learn more about the Aviv Medical Program and determine if it’s the right fit for you.