A migraine is a painful, throbbing headache usually located in a specific area and often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and visual problems. Headaches can last hours or even days and can have varying degrees of intensity. The symptoms of headaches can be unbearable and debilitating, preventing you from your daily tasks or going to work. The National Headache Foundation estimates that 28 million Americans suffer from migraines. Women are affected more than men, and people of all ages can fall victim to chronic headaches. Many people experience their first migraine during adolescence or young adulthood. Unfortunately, those who experience migraines may find temporary relief through medication, but others have found medication to have little to no effect.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a non-invasive and safe treatment that has shown to have great results in treating migraine headaches.

How Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Help With Headaches?

During the first phase of a migraine, blood flow may be reduced by an average of 35%. The specific symptoms that are experienced as a result of reduced blood flow, visions of flashing lights depend on which area of the brain is affected.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) works by letting you breathe 100% pure oxygen as you sit in an enclosed chamber. Part of the reason migraines happen is because your brain’s blood vessels are swollen. HBOT increases cerebral blood flow, delivering oxygen to affected areas of the brain, Higher amounts of blood and oxygen stimulate cerebral tissue and aid in the recovery of idling neurons. HBOT reduces inflammation in the brain’s tissue which aid in neurological function and pain relief. Recommended treatments vary from 10 to 20 treatments 3 to 5 times a week

“HBOT reduces inflammation in the brain’s tissue which aid in neurological function and pain relief.”

The History of Medical Research with HBOT and Migraines

Hyperbaric oxygen has been used to treat migraines since the 1930s. Charles E. Rhein of Linde Air Products, Co. successfully treated migraines by having patients breathe pure oxygen at 6 to 8 liters per minute. In the 1940s, Dr. Alvarez of Mayo Clinic repeated the experiment with 100 headache patients. He noted that patients received the best results when they received oxygen therapy at the beginning of their headaches.

In the 1970s, Dr. Kudrow of the California Medical Clinic for Headache began using oxygen therapy to treat cluster headaches. He noted, after a 402 patient study, cluster headaches are cyclical in nature. Dr. Kudrow concluded that cluster headaches occur due to changes in a person’s inner biological clock, tampering circadian rhythms, resulting in low oxygen levels prior to headaches. This explained why oxygen therapy was effective for 3/4’s of Dr. Kudrow’s cluster headache study subjects.

The research on hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and migraine headaches continue to this day. Many studies show that a large number of migraine sufferers get significant pain relief after HBOT treatments.

World-Class HBOT in Century City, Margate, and Woodland Hills

At Aalto Hyperbaric, we have three state-of-the-art hyperbaric oxygen treatment centers in Century City, Margate, and Woodland Hills.  Our treatments are safe, painless, and non-invasive. They are scientifically proven to treat a number of temporary and chronic conditions that traditional medicine may not address. Schedule an appointment with us today at 1-888-303-HBOT, or email us anytime at info@aaltohyperbaric.com.