Celebrities including entertainer Justin Bieber and former “Jeopardy!” game show host, actress and author Mayim Bialik have helped bring hyperbaric oxygen therapy to the mainstream by touting the therapy’s potential health benefits.
Bieber turned to therapy to help him deal with anxiety and stress, he announced on YouTube’s “Justin Bieber: Seasons,” while Bialik has publicly said she’s trying therapy in hopes of relieving her inflammation and autoimmune issues.
Olympic athletes such as Michael Phelps and Lindsey Vonn have also used the therapy to “seek a competitive edge,” according to the Hyperbaric Oxygen Institute in Irvine, California.
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Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy a revolutionary solution for the public beyond medical use?
Here’s what you need to know.
Justin Bieber is among the celebrities who have publicly stated that they have tried hyperbaric oxygen therapy for specific health reasons. (Kevin Mazur/MG21/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not new to healthcare professionals.
It is a well-established treatment for decompression sickness, which is a potential risk of scuba diving, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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Other conditions treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy include serious infections, air bubbles in blood vessels and non-healing wounds caused by diabetes, the same source noted.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps combat decompression sickness, a risk taken when scuba diving. (iStock)
In a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, air pressure is increased to two to three times higher than normal air pressure, the Mayo Clinic said.
Under these conditions, a person’s lungs can collect much more oxygen than would be possible if they were breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure, the same source said.
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“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used for a variety of conditions and ailments,” said Alexa Mieses Malchuk, MD, MPH, a family medicine physician at One Medical in Cary, North Carolina.
“It works by delivering oxygen at high pressure, thereby increasing the concentration of oxygen delivered to the body.”
She also noted that the treatment can be used in more serious medical situations.
Mayim Bialik said she uses hyperbaric oxygen therapy to improve her health. (Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
“The majority of evidence exists regarding treatment of significant carbon monoxide poisoning or hydrogen peroxide exposure, gas embolism and decompression sickness – potentially life-threatening complications of scuba diving,” Malchuk said.
How can oxygen heal?
A hyperbaric oxygen chamber “is a pressurized tube that looks like a larger version of one of the cylinders you would use at your bank’s drive-through,” the University of Kansas Health System says on its website.
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Inside the chamber, a person breathes nearly 100 percent oxygen while experiencing pressure higher than sea level, the same source said.
“Under pressure, oxygen behaves like a drug with specific indications and side effects,” Dr. Steven M. Orr, director of wound care and hyperbaric medicine at the University of Kansas Health System, said on the organization’s website.
The hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber allows a person to breathe nearly 100% oxygen. (iStock)
The doctor also said that hyperbaric oxygen “heals wounds that require a higher level of oxygen than patients are able to generate themselves.”
Why is the treatment attracting celebrity attention?
The obsession with finding the “holy grail” of good health is driving interest in all types of treatments, from celebrities to curious, health-conscious Americans alike.
“Humans are obsessed with biohacking and wellness these days,” says Malchuk, of One Medical in North Carolina. “People are looking at things outside of conventional medicine, not just to stay healthy, but to stay ahead of the curve.”
Regarding hyperbaric therapy specifically, Malchuk told Fox News Digital that “some people also use it for the purpose of speeding up healing or improving athletic performance.”
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment that is attracting the attention of health-conscious celebrities. (Getty Images; iStock)
However, as the hype around hyperbaric oxygen spreads, she said expectations need to be kept in check.
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“Hyperbaric therapy is a treatment option for which there is strong evidence for some conditions, but for others the evidence is mixed or nonexistent,” Malchuk said.
“That’s why it’s so important to talk with your family doctor, who knows your specific medical and personal history and can give you the best advice about whether this treatment is right for you.”
Is hyperbaric oxygen safe?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is relatively safe, Malchuk said, but it carries rare but serious risks.
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These effects may include pressure trauma to the sinuses, middle ear, and lungs, oxygen toxicity, reversible vision disturbances, seizures, and decompression sickness.
Always consult a healthcare professional first
The most common complication after therapy is middle ear trauma, noted Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.
Justin Bieber has used hyperbaric oxygen therapy to improve his health, he told his social media followers. (iStock; Getty Images)
Other possible complications may include eye damage, lung collapse, hypoglycemia and sinus problems.
In severe and rare circumstances, a person can suffer from oxygen poisoning, the same source said.
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Before jumping into a hyperbaric oxygen treatment chamber, weigh the possible risks and benefits.
“Anyone considering hyperbaric oxygen treatment should definitely consult with their family doctor first,” Malchuk said.
“This is especially true for people with any type of medical condition, but especially for patients who have lung problems, claustrophobia or sinus or ear problems,” she added.
