What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that involves breathing 100% pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. This process increases oxygen levels in the body 10–15 times higher than normal, and has been long-proven to speed up the body’s healing and rejuvenation abilities.

The Aviv Medical Program advances the effectiveness of HBOT many steps further by providing this therapy in a large suite and implementing specific oxygen fluctuations. Coupled with an array of other therapeutic strategies, this HBOT protocol can help your body and brain reach their full potential.

What does Aviv Clinics' unique HBOT protocol do to your body?

Aviv Clinics’ unique HBOT protocol is a unique, evidence-based intervention that goes beyond standard hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The protocol combines two processes:

First, this protocol increases the oxygen level in the tissues of the body and brain by 10-15%. Second, clinical trials show that by fluctuating oxygen levels throughout treatment, our protocol triggers the body’s natural capacity for repair and regeneration. By controlling and combining these two processes, we maximize the potential of your body and brain to achieve new standards in cognitive and physical performance.

These precise oxygen fluctuations deceive the body into believing it’s in a dangerous low-oxygen state, inducing many of the cellular mechanisms that are usually induced during hypoxia. However, because oxygen levels never drop below the 21% found in our normal air, these mechanisms are released without any hazardous effects. This reaction is termed the Hyperoxic-Hypoxic Paradox.

In other words, these variations:  

• Increase the amount of oxygen in the blood.
• Regenerate damaged tissue to heal faster.
• Provide energy the brain needs to trigger the healing process.

By the end of the treatment program, our clients typically experience a significant improvement in mental and physical performance.

Do I qualify for the Aviv Medical Program?

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• Aging
• Mild Cognitive Decline
• Post-Stroke
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS)
• Long Covid
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Lyme Disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Erectile Dysfunction
• Athletic Performance
• Chronic Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

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Aging

Researchers discovered HBOT may improve signs of aging by:

• Improving cognitive function, specifically attention span, information processing speed, multitasking, and memory
• Lowering the number of senescent cells responsible for aging
• Increasing telomere length
• Improving brain activity and cellular metabolism. 

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Mild Cognitive Impairment

HBOT’s ability to increase blood flow to the brain shows promise in improving cognitive function. 

The  ability of the blood vessels in our brain to carry oxygen naturally declines with age, and HBOT can help lessen this effect. 

One neuroscience study suggests HBOT can help combat memory loss and reverse early biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease.

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Post-Stroke Deficits

Clinical trials suggest the Aviv HBOT protocol can significantly improve post-stroke conditions. Study participants describe a distinctly improved quality of life. 

When combined with additional personalized interventions like proper nutrition, exercise, and cognitive training, HBOT may help post-stroke patients regain their speech, motor functions, and independence in performing day-to-day tasks. 

Speak with an Aviv Clinics team member to learn if you’re a candidate for the program.

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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS)

Approximately 30-40% of those who suffer concussions or traumatic brain injuries experience chronic symptoms. This condition is called post-concussion syndrome (PCS) and merits careful medical attention.

Research indicates HBOT may improve PCS, even years after a mild traumatic brain injury event.

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Long COVID

Long COVID, or symptoms that develop or linger beyond three months after the onset of COVID-19, can include physical, cognitive, respiratory, and cardiac complications. 

Studies illustrate that when included with other types of therapies, HBOT encourages oxygenation and reduces inflammation to “improve the clinical status of severely ill COVID-19 patients.” In clinical trials, HBOT has been shown to  enhance neuroplasticity in brain areas linked to “cognitive and emotional recovery in post-COVID-19 patients.”

“During the program I gradually started to feel the improvements. I felt sharper, I could think more clearly, and could even concentrate for longer. I regained back my capabilities… it’s like an upgraded version of myself.”

Vered Israelowitz. Long COVID survivor and Aviv Clinics Protocol patient.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that often occurs in those who have experienced or witnesed a traumatic event. Its cognitive and physical symptoms can be disruptive and debilitating.

In clinical trials of the Aviv HBOT protocol, PTSD patients reported positive outcomes after a series of HBOT sessions, including symptom reduction and improved relationships and quality of life.

Through MRI scans, veterans with PTSD showed improvements in both brain microstructure and functionality.

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Lyme Disease

Chronic Lyme disease is a challenging and misunderstood illness. Patients often only experience limited relief from antibiotic-heavy therapies. 

However, recent research suggests HBOT may improve symptoms of Lyme disease in patients who have taken antibiotics for at least 10 years. 

“I now have a solution. I have a way to get back to this place where I’m feeling energized, I’m feeling vital, I’m feeling like I can take on the world again.” Lyndi Scott-Strite, Lyme disease survivor and Aviv Clinics patient

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Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that causes musculoskeletal pain throughout the body as well as other symptoms like fatigue, cognitive dysfunction and sleep issues.

In studies of patients with fibromyalgia, a 12-week regimen of HBOT sessions five days per week produced a significant reduction in chronic pain and other symptoms.

These early studies suggest HBOT may help fibromyalgia patients live a more comfortable life.

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Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects nearly 30 million men in the United States. Medical professionals have concluded HBOT may be a good alternative or supplemental treatment for ED.

In a study published in 2018, researchers found that 40 days of HBOT sessions eased chronic ED among patients. Erectile function improved by 88%, and 80% of individuals in the study indicated positive results.

Chronic Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Immediate treatment for CO poisoning is crucial to restore the flow of fresh oxygen throughout the body. However, individuals may still suffer from debilitating delayed or chronic effects. 

The Aviv Medical Program offers advanced therapies in addition to specialized hyperbaric oxygen therapy to address concerns of those suffering from chronic effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.

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How does HBOT work at Aviv Clinics?

1. You enter a hyperbaric oxygen suite

Clients sit comfortably in our spacious 14-person suites, breathing through a custom-fitted oxygen mask. Our clients generally don’t feel anything during this process, outside of mild ear discomfort (like you experience when flying). You can read, listen to podcasts, practice a new language, or complete cognitive training exercises during your hyperbaric “dive.” 

2. You rotate between breathing through the mask and breathing air

During the HBOT treatment, the suite is pressurized with medical-grade air, which contains 21% oxygen.  Our staff will help you alternate between breathing air in the quite and 100% pure oxygen through your mask. This fluctuation is customized to your physical and mental health needs. It’s the key to gaining the greatest benefits HBOT offers.

3. You repeat the process five days per week

Depending on your needs, goals, and the guidance of your Aviv Clinics physician, you will complete as many as 60 HBOT sessions. At the end of your treatment, you receive detailed before-and-after reports that outline your progress.

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How long does HBOT take to see results?

Most people see medically verifiable results by the end of their treatment. Measurable improvements often continue for weeks or months after completion of the program.

Keep in mind there is no one-size-fits-all approach. You’ll receive your own unique, holistic therapy plan that can include HBOT, so outcomes and timelines will vary. Aviv Clinics provides objective data during your treatment plan to assess your health before and after implementing HBOT and other therapies. 

Factors that could influence how quickly you see hyperbaric chamber benefits include: 

• The condition being addressed
• Severity of the condition
• Overall health status
• Concurrent treatments
• Individual healing responses
• Lifestyle factors

The personalized treatment plans offered through the Aviv Medical Program can combine HBOT with targeted therapy, including cognitive exercises, physical training, and/or nutritional coaching, for synergistic effects. Harnessing the combined power of HBOT with these complementary therapies can produce more effective results.

 

How long do the effects of HBOT last?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is designed to offer a sustained edge in brain and body performance by promoting lasting effects on your health, promoting neuroplasticity and improving the flow of nutrients to the brain. This means that even after ceasing therapy, HBOT continues to empower the body to perform its innate, independent ability to heal from within. 

While some effects can be felt relatively quickly, like enhanced mental clarity and increased energy levels, lasting outcomes can progress over months.

Is HBOT safe?

HBOT is considered a generally safe therapy. Our pre-assessments, physician evaluations and in-suite monitoring all play essential roles in ensuring safety. Rest assured, the Aviv Clinics medical team puts your well-being front and center in your personal treatment plan. 

Read more about the safety of hyperbaric oxygen therapy here.

What makes Aviv’s HBOT protocol unique?

There are two key processes:

• First, we increase the oxygen level you breathe through a mask in the HBOT suite. As you inhale, your body and brain’s tissues become saturated with high levels of oxygen. Oxygen-saturated plasma can bypass blood vessels that have become clogged or narrowed with age or illness. This gives the brain the energy it needs to turbocharge the healing process.
• Second, we fluctuate the level of oxygen you breathe when inside the HBOT suite. This variation in oxygen supply deceives your body into believing it needs to enter self-repair mode, and triggers your natural regenerative mechanisms.

Aviv’s Multidisciplinary Approach

A holistic approach to recovery can include HBOT coupled with additional therapie. Your comprehensive, personalized treatment plan may include: 

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
• Cognitive training
• Physical training
• Nutritional coaching 
• Other therapies as recommended by your Aviv Clinics physician

“The Aviv Medical Program can be successful because it addresses the cause of the symptoms, not just the symptoms alone.”
Dr. Mohammed Elamir, MD, FACP

“At your beck and call, you have a physician, dietitian, physical therapist… so many professional people who will help you. What came out was a plan for me—just for me.”
Zizi MacKinnon, Aviv Clinics alumna

“You get to work with everybody from the neurologist who works with you on brain games to the dietitian who helps you with your diet. For Lyme disease, that’s extremely important.”
Lyndi Scott-Strite, Aviv Clinics alumna

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