Celebrities such as performing artist Justin Bieber and former “Jeopardy!” game show host, actress and author Mayim Bialik have helped bring the practice of hyperbaric oxygen therapy into the mainstream by touting the therapy’s potential health benefits.
Bieber has turned to therapy to treat anxiety and stress, he revealed on YouTube’s “Justin Bieber: Seasons,” while Bialik has said publicly that she is trying the therapy in hopes of relieving her inflammation and autoimmune issues.
According to the Hyperbaric Oxygen Institute based in Irvine, California, Olympians such as Michael Phelps and Lindsey Vonn have also used the therapy to “gain a competitive advantage.”
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Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy a groundbreaking innovation for the public beyond its medical application?
Here’s what you should know:
Justin Bieber is one of the celebrities who have publicly stated that they have tried hyperbaric oxygen therapy for certain health reasons. (Kevin Mazur/MG21/Getty Images for the Met Museum/Vogue)
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is nothing new for physicians.
According to the Mayo Clinic, this is a proven treatment for decompression sickness, which is a potential risk in recreational diving.
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Other conditions treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy include severe infections, air bubbles in blood vessels and non-healing wounds caused by diabetes, according to the same source.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves inhaling pure oxygen in a pressurized environment.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps with decompression sickness, a risk in recreational diving. (iStock)
In a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, the air pressure is increased to two to three times normal air pressure, the Mayo Clinic said.
Under these conditions, a person’s lungs can absorb much more oxygen than would be possible when breathing pure oxygen at normal atmospheric pressure, the same source cited.
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“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used for a variety of conditions and illnesses,” says Alexa Mieses Malchuk, MD, MPH, a family medicine physician at One Medical in Cary, North Carolina.
“It works by providing oxygen under high pressure, thereby increasing the concentration of oxygen delivered to the body.”
She also noted that the treatment can be used in difficult medical situations.
Mayim Bialik has said she uses hyperbaric oxygen therapy to improve her health. (Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
“Most evidence supports the treatment of severe carbon monoxide poisoning or hydrogen peroxide exposure, air embolism and decompression sickness – life-threatening complications of recreational 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-thru,” according to the University of Kansas Health System’s website.
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In the chamber, the person breathes almost 100% oxygen and is exposed to a pressure higher than at sea level, according to the same source.
“Under pressure, oxygen behaves like a drug with specific indications and side effects,” said Steven M. Orr, MD, director of wound care and hyperbaric medicine at the University of Kansas Health System, 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 higher levels of oxygen than the patient can produce on their own.”
Why does the treatment attract celebrity attention?
The obsession with finding the “Holy Grail” of health is fueling interest in treatments of all kinds. The interest comes from both celebrities and curious Americans interested in health.
“These days, people are obsessed with biohacking and wellness,” said Malchuk of One Medical in North Carolina. “People are exploring things outside the realm of conventional medicine to not only stay healthy, but to stay ahead.”
Regarding hyperbaric therapy specifically, Malchuk told Fox News Digital that “some people also use it with the intention 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)
But as the hype surrounding hyperbaric oxygen treatment grows, she believes expectations need to be tempered.
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“Hyperbaric therapy is a treatment option that has strong scientific evidence for certain conditions, but mixed or no evidence for others,” Malchuk reported.
“That’s why it’s so important to talk to your GP, who knows your specific medical and personal history and can best advise you whether this treatment is suitable for you.”
Is hyperbaric oxygen safe?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is relatively safe, Malchuk said, but it does come with some rare but serious risks.
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These may include pressure injuries to the sinuses, middle ear and lungs, oxygen toxicity, reversible visual disturbances, seizures and decompression sickness.
Always consult a doctor first
The most common complication following therapy is trauma to the middle ear, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.
Justin Bieber has used hyperbaric oxygen therapy to improve his health, he told his followers on social media. (iStock; Getty Images)
Other possible complications may include eye damage, lung collapse, low blood sugar and sinus infections.
In severe and rare cases, oxygen poisoning can occur, according to the same source.
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Before entering a hyperbaric oxygen treatment chamber, weigh the potential risks and benefits.
“Anyone considering hyperbaric oxygen therapy should definitely consult their family doctor first,” emphasizes Malchuk.
“This is especially true for people with medical conditions of any kind, but especially those with lung problems, claustrophobia, or sinus or ear problems,” she added.
