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It has been estimated that currently there are approximately 1.7 million stroke survivors in the United States. Regrettably, the common belief is that once a section of the brain has been damaged by a stroke, nothing can restore the function of that area. Recent scientific research has revealed that while the more central areas of the brain tissue may be irreversibly damaged after a stroke, the area surrounding this tissue may be functionally salvaged with the use of hyperbaric oxygen. Since the early 1970’s, scientific journals have reported over 1,000 cases demonstrating a 40 – 100% rate of improvement for stroke patients treated with HBOT. In the journal Stroke, Dr. Richard Neubauer, a pioneer in the use of hyperbaric oxygen for neurological disorders, reported outstanding results in a group of 122 stroke patients treated with HBOT. In one case, significant functional improvement was noted when HBOT was given fourteen years after the initial stroke.
The benefit of hyperbaric oxygen for stroke patients probably stems from its ability to enhance the metabolism of the so called “idling nerve cells” as well as increasing the oxygen supply to tissue surrounding the area of maximal damage.
West Germany has long recognized the effectiveness of HBOT in stroke rehabilitation to the extent that virtually all stroke patients receive a three-week intensive course of hyperbaric oxygen paid by the insurance companies.
In addition to the remarkable results in stroke patients, Dr. Neubauer has reported similar outcomes for other types of brain injury treated with hyperbaric oxygen including traumatic injuries and anoxic events (near drowning and cardiac arrest).
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