Long Covid-19
With Long COVID, people may experience symptoms months after recovering from the initial COVID-19 infection. Long COVID can affect people of any age, even those who had mild cases. Symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, joint pain, and difficulty sleeping. The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but it may involve an overactive immune system and damage caused by the virus.
OxyGeneration provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for the treatment of long COVID. During HBOT, patients spend >60 minutes breathing nearly 100% oxygen in a special pressurized chamber. The increased pressure helps the body absorb more oxygen, which helps repair damaged tissues, reduces inflammation, and supports the body’s natural healing processes.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a safe and simple procedure and is associated with few side effects. HBOT is not a cure for long COVID but for those with lingering symptoms like fatigue or brain fog, HBOT may reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients.
How HBOT Works for Long Covid-19
HBOT for long COVID may help in several ways:
1. Improved Tissue Oxygenation:
By allowing the body to absorb much higher levels of oxygen, HBOT for long COVID increases how much oxygen is delivered to tissues, particularly areas with poor circulation or damage, which helps them heal.
2. Reduced Inflammation:
An overactive immune system leading to inflammation is a common feature of long COVID. By increasing oxygen levels in the body, HBOT helps calm the immune response and reduce inflammation.
3. Blood Vessels and Tissue Repair:
COVID can damage tissue and blood vessels. By improving blood flow and the amount of oxygen in the body, HBOT helps repair blood vessels and tissue damaged by COVID, speeding up the healing process.
4. Brain Function:
Cognitive impairment, or “brain fog”, is a debilitating symptom of long COVID. By improving oxygen delivery to the brain, HBOT increases the brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections, improving brain function and mental clarity.
5. Mitochondrial Function:
Mitochondria, the “powerhouses” of cells, use oxygen to produce energy, but they may be less efficient in patients with long COVID. By making more oxygen available, thus providing more “fuel”, HBOT helps the mitochondria boost energy production, relieving fatigue and muscle weakness
Benefits of HBOT for Long Covid
Symptom relief:
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help relieve many symptoms of long COVID by targeting low oxygen levels, inflammation, and reduced energy production, easing symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, difficulty breathing, and pain.
Improved Quality of Life:
HBOT can boost energy, improve mental clarity, and reduce discomfort, helping long COVID patients return to work and sporting or social activities.
Reduced Medical Burden:
By easing symptoms and improving overall health, HBOT for long COVID can lower the need for visits to the doctor and how much medication patients need, leading to a smoother recovery.
Clinical Evidence
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for long COVID patients is a safe and simple treatment, and HBOT may improve symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and overall quality of life. Many trials have shown that HBOT treats the underlying symptoms of long COVID, such as inflammation and oxygen deprivation, and enhances physical and mental health. The improvements persist for at least a year after the final HBOT session. Overall, clinical trials show that treating long COVID with multiple sessions of HBOT leads to significant improvements in brain function and sleep and decreases fatigue and pain.
Practical Considerations
Client Selection:
HBOT is typically recommended for individuals presenting with Long-COVID. Please note the contraindications.
Treatment Protocols:
Treatments usually last 60 to 90 minutes per session and are conducted daily over several weeks. Every individual is different and we recommend consulting with your medical team. To help determine how many sessions each individual will require, new clients can speak with OxyGeneration staff prior to commencing their Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy.
Monitoring Progress:
Regular assessments are crucial to track healing progress and adjust the treatment plan as necessary.
Alan Crean, Long Covid, Dublin: (10 sessions)
“I have been attending due to Long Covid complications and it has really helped spur on the healing process for me.”
John Collins, Long Covid, Galway:
“I began sessions in OxyGeneration after suffering extreme fatigue and brain fog after getting Covid. I felt a little bit better after each session but by session 8, I felt back to myself again. Although I originally attended for post-COVID symptoms, I noticed my chronic back pain, which I have suffered from for a long time, has also eased significantly, which was an unbelievable bonus! I would definitely recommend OxyGeneration and hyperbaric oxygenation.”
Ann Byrne, Long Covid
“I have Long Covid and have lived with its effects for the past 4 years. These include extreme exhaustion and fatigue, constant runny nose, sharp pain in my arms and feet at times. I developed Epilepsy on March 2020 and severe diverticular disease. Last November 2023 it was so bad that I looked up OxyGeneration and read that you need 10 sessions together to help Long Covid. Both my husband and I did the 10 sessions in 13 days as my husband is also suffering from Long Covid.
Since the sessions, I have felt that a poison has left my system and it has given me new energy. That doesn’t mean I have no fatigue and exhaustion, however, when I rest now, I recover more quickly.
I found the first treatment a bit intimidating as you did not know what to expect but the staff were brilliant at explaining everything. I had a 2nd treatment two days later. I would highly recommend it for healing and numerous other benefits as listed in your brochure. I will certainly be broadcasting how effective it is and no medications and no side effects.”
Next Steps
Treating Long COVID with hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a safe, simple and effective treatment that relieves symptoms like tiredness, brain fog and pain, and can improve the quality of life of patients with lingering symptoms after COVID infection by helping the body’s natural healing processes.
If you are currently on a treatment plan with your GP for Long-COVID, you’ll need a letter of referral to book your OxyGeneration sessions.
For medical professionals please refer to the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society resources on COVID-19 and the Clinical Medicine Journal article and please see our resources and blog.
We’ve compiled an overview of research to date on hyperbaric oxygenation and COVID-19:
Hyperbaric Oxygenation and COVID-19 | OxyGeneration v1.2 Feb 2021.
For further information on the use of HBOT for Long Covid, please visit our resources page by clicking the link below.