Suitability

Please read the information below to discover whether HBOT is right for you.

Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Right for You?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) involves sitting in a large specialised chamber while breathing high-concentration oxygen through a facemask. During each session, the chamber is gently pressurised to around twice normal atmospheric pressure (2.0 ATA) for 60 minutes. Sessions last approximately 80 minutes as ten minutes are spent “diving” down to 2.0 ATA, and ten minutes “rising” back to sea level pressure.

This increased pressure allows more oxygen to dissolve directly into the blood plasma, improving oxygen delivery to tissues. HBOT has several established uses, and new research suggests it may benefit several more conditions. When delivered in the correct setting, it is a non-invasive therapy with a clear safety profile.

However, HBOT is not suitable for everyone, and this page explains how suitability is assessed at OxyGeneration. Before commencing sessions, all clients are asked to sign a consent form confirming they have completed the pre-screening questionnaire and understand the briefing (which includes information on the contraindications, risks, and side effects). These are also explained on this page.

What HBOT at Oxygeneration Is — and Is Not

HBOT is:

  • A supportive (adjunct) therapy

  • Used alongside standard medical care

  • Delivered as a planned course of multiple sessions rather than a one-off intervention

  • A treatment where results may build gradually over time

HBOT is not:

  • A replacement for medical treatment

  • A guaranteed solution or cure

Who May Consider HBOT

HBOT is commonly considered in situations where tissues may benefit from improved oxygen delivery, including:

  • Non-healing or slow-healing wounds

  • Radiation-related tissue injury

  • Diabetic foot ulcers

  • Certain post-surgical or [traumatic recovery situations]

  • Selected inflammatory conditions 

  • Selected circulation (e.g. ischaemic) conditions

  • Recovery- or performance-focused musculoskeletal goals

Some people attend following a referral from a consultant or specialist. Others attend by self-referral. 

Medical Oversight and Screening

OxyGeneration is a service provider, not a medical clinic.

  • We do not diagnose conditions or prescribe treatment

  • We do not override or give medical advice

  • All clients complete a pre-treatment screening questionnaire before commencing HBOT

  • Where screening identifies a medical caution, written medical clearance is required before treatment begins

  • HBOT is not provided where an absolute contraindication is identified during screening or at any point during a client’s course of treatment.

This approach ensures that HBOT is delivered within appropriate safety and regulatory boundaries.

Contraindications and Cautions 

HBOT is a painless, non-invasive intervention. However, there are certain well-documented contraindications and risks. All clients are required to complete a screening questionnaire before they commence sessions.  

Absolute contraindications: HBOT prohibited

  • Untreated pneumothorax (collapsed lung)

Relative contraindications / Cautions: Medical Clearance Required for the following 

HBOT involves increased pressure, conditions that impair pressure equalisation, cause air trapping, or affect lung function require careful monitoring to reduce the risk of eardrum rupture or other complications.

These conditions DO NOT automatically rule out HBOT. Medical review is required and treatment can usually proceed once the condition is stable and appropriate safety measures are in place.

  • Recent ear surgery

  • Recent thoracic surgery or lung injury

  • Recent Eye surgery 

  • COPD/ chronic bronchitis

  • Emphysema 

  • Uncontrolled hypertension

  • Uncontrolled diabetes

  • Heart failure 

  • Cardiomyopathy

  • History of spontaneous pneumothorax

  • A history of seizure disorders

  • Upper respiratory infections e.g. current cold, flu or sinus infection

  • Pneumonia

  • Uncontrolled fever

  • Uncontrolled asthma

  • Optic neuritis

  • Congenital spherocytosis 

  • Pregnancy.

  • Pacemakers or implanted medical devices. Some older or non-pressure-rated devices may not be approved for use in a hyperbaric chamber and could malfunction under pressure. Most modern devices are compatible, but device type and manufacturer approval should be confirmed before treatment. 

  • Claustrophobia: most clients manage well with staff support; severe claustrophobia should be discussed before booking.

  • Clients are advised not to smoke 24 hours before their session. Caffeine should be avoided 2-4 hours before the HBOT session. 

If taking any of the following medications, consult with your doctor BEFORE commencing HBOT. Clients may have to complete their course of medication, or stop or reduce these medications before HBOT can start. 

>>Always consult with your doctor before stopping or changing your medication dosage<<

The efficacy of certain chemotherapy agents is reduced by HBOT.

This includes: 

  • Bleomycin

  • Cisplatin

  • Doxorubicin 

Other Medications:

  • Disulfiram 

  • Mafenide acetate (Sulfamylon)

  • Amiodarone 

  • Nitrofurantoin 

For more information on contraindications, please see here. For more information on hbot and chemotherapy agents, please see here. Provided for information only. 

What are the side effects and risks of HBOT?

Note the Oxygeneration chamber operates at 2 ATA with 90–96% oxygen, therefore the risk of complications is low. However, there are certain side effects and risks.

  • Most people find the experience comfortable, though ear or sinus discomfort during pressurisation is common (similar to being on a flight) and staff will guide you through equalisation techniques before your session. 

  • The most common complication after HBOT is trauma to the middle ear (ruptured ear drum), but this can be avoided by correct equalisation. If clients experience any ear pain while the chamber is going to pressure they should alert staff immediately so that measures can be taken to reduce the pressure. 

  • Myopia (Short sightedness): Clients who are considering many sessions should be informed that temporary blurring/myopia is common and expected, usually resolves after treatment ends, and that with very extended courses (typically 50+ sessions) there is a small risk of cataract progression. 

  • HBOT may decrease blood glucose levels, so diabetics should monitor their blood sugar before and after hyperbaric treatment. Please see the Diabetes FAQ for further information. 

  • High body temperature (uncontrolled fever) can increase the risk of oxygen toxicity. 

  • Poorly controlled epilepsy, a history of oxygen-induced seizures, or low seizure threshold may increase the risk of oxygen-induced seizures.

  • Rare side effects include fatigue, vertigo, and blood pressure changes. Other possible rare complications are eye damage, lung collapse, and sinus problems.

  • In very rare cases increased oxygen can cause oxygen toxicity (poisoning). This can lead to convulsions, muscle contractions and breathing difficulty. Our staff are trained to recognise early signs of oxygen toxicity and will stop or adjust treatment immediately.

Cancer and HBOT

HBOT is not a cancer treatment.

It is, however, widely used internationally to support the management of radiation-induced tissue injury, including radiation burns, osteoradionecrosis and radiation cystitis or proctitis.

Current evidence does not support concerns that HBOT promotes cancer recurrence or progression. However, decisions about HBOT in the context of active or recent cancer are made individually and in consultation with the treating oncology team. 

Clients receiving or recently completing certain chemotherapy regimens should refer to the medication cautions section above, and oncology team clearance is required before treatment. Decisions about HBOT in the context of cancer are made on an individual basis and, where appropriate, in consultation with the treating oncology team, with careful consideration of medication interactions.

Informed Consent and “Off-Label” Use

HBOT is used internationally in a range of clinical and supportive contexts. The conditions for which HBOT is formally approved or recognised vary between countries and professional bodies. As a result, some uses are considered established, while others are regarded as adjunctive or emerging, with more limited or evolving evidence.

For example, the use of HBOT for post-surgical recovery or sports injury is adjunctive and supported by the recognised general tissue-healing and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of HBOT. Other uses, including chronic pain or neurological conditions, such as Long-Covid, are emerging and have a less developed evidence base. 

At OxyGeneration:

  • We distinguish between established and emerging uses

  • We aim to provide clear and balanced information about current evidence 

  • We are upfront about potential risks, and uses which have limited evidence

  • We support informed client choice, within a framework of screening, medical clearance where indicated, and defined safety standards

We believe that adults should be supported to make informed decisions about their care, provided this is done transparently, responsibly, and with appropriate safeguards in place.

Your Decision

Choosing HBOT is a personal decision.

Our role is to:

  • Provide a safe, professional, supervised environment

  • Offer clear, balanced information on established and emerging uses

  • Support informed consent

  • Work alongside existing medical care

If you are unsure whether HBOT is appropriate for you, we encourage you to discuss this with your doctor or contact our team for further information.