During a migraine, blood flow can be decreased by up to 36% which then causes lack of oxygen in the tissues and changes in the brains chemistry. That change in brain chemistry during a migraine dilates the blood vessels which can cause swelling in the brain. A migraine is often preceded or accompanied by sensory warning signs such as flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light and sound. The excruciating pain that migraines bring can last for hours or even days.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Studies show that the time between headaches is increased and a full blown migraine can be stopped completely within 30 minutes of beginning hyperbaric treatment.
During Hyperbaric treatments, blood vessels are constricted whileOxygen is dramatically increased in brain tissue. The result is that brain swelling is reduced by as much as 50% and the pain goes away.
Five studies were compared using Hyperbarics for migraines and cluster headaches and the majority of the patients reported significant relief after only forty five minutes of treatment.
One of our patients with a 43 year history of migraines everyday, is Migraine free after received eleven hyperbaric oxygen treatments over a four week period. She now comes for treatment once every two weeks for maintenance.
