A glimmer of hope has emerged for the estimated 90,000 people in the Netherlands grappling wiht the debilitating effects of long COVID. While traditional treatments like physiotherapy have yielded limited results, a new therapy involving hyperbaric oxygen is showing promise.
Fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and heightened sensitivity to light and sound are just some of the challenges faced by those suffering from long COVID. This innovative treatment, which involves administering pure oxygen under high pressure, appears to be making a difference.
A Life-Changing Treatment?
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Lidia de Vries, a military personnel, experienced the transformative power of this therapy firsthand.Two years after contracting COVID-19, she was still struggling with severe fatigue, unable to even climb stairs. “I tried everything,” she shared, “from dietetics and occupational therapy to physiotherapy and psychological counseling. It all helped a little, but not enough.”
After undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Sneek, Lidia’s life took a turn for the better. “I still have to be mindful of my limits,” she admitted, “but I’ve gone from feeling completely drained to functioning at about 70 percent. I no longer need to nap during the day.”
“it’s really going much better,” she added, expressing her optimism about the treatment’s potential.
How it effectively works
The therapy takes place in a specialized chamber resembling a submarine, where the air pressure is increased to simulate the pressure experienced 14 meters underwater. Patients breathe pure oxygen for 1.5 to 2 hours daily, typically undergoing around 40 sessions.
While the results are encouraging, it’s vital to note that hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not yet officially recommended for long COVID. However, with positive anecdotal evidence emerging, further research is underway to determine its long-term effectiveness and potential for wider adoption.
“I think it’s promising,” remarked one doctor, highlighting the need for more extensive studies to fully understand the benefits and limitations of this innovative treatment.
A glimmer of hope is emerging for those struggling with the debilitating effects of long COVID. While traditional treatments have been limited, a promising therapy utilizing hyperbaric oxygen chambers is showing encouraging results in the Netherlands.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, increasing the amount of oxygen that reaches the body’s tissues. This treatment has been used for decades to address various conditions, including radiation injuries and chronic bone inflammation. Two major centers in Amsterdam and Goes provide 24/7 HBOT for emergencies like diving accidents and carbon monoxide poisoning, covered by insurance.
however, HBOT for long COVID patients is not currently covered by insurance due to ongoing research into its effectiveness.One key question researchers are exploring is why some individuals recover from long COVID while others continue to experience symptoms.
Israeli Research sparks Hope
The Hyperbaric Medicine Medical Center in goes became the first facility in the Netherlands to offer HBOT for long COVID patients,driven by promising Israeli research published in 2022.The study indicated that HBOT significantly reduced fatigue and cognitive issues in long COVID patients. This sparked interest, leading to an influx of inquiries from patients seeking treatment.
“We than started offering the treatment free of charge to healthcare workers from the region,” says Dr. Christian Heringhaus, a hyperbaric medicine specialist at the center. “They were on the front lines during the pandemic.”
Over time, Dr. Heringhaus and his team observed that the majority of patients experienced meaningful benefits from HBOT. They also noticed variations in recovery rates and worked to identify patterns, refining their approach.
Long-Term Benefits Emerge
After a year and a half of experience,Dr. Heringhaus and his team have gained valuable insights. they’ve found that fatigue can initially worsen during HBOT, but cognitive function frequently enough improves. Moreover, the full impact of the therapy may not become apparent until a year after treatment, highlighting the need for patience.
“A top athlete also needs more than a year to recover after an injury,” Dr. Heringhaus explains.
Dr. Heringhaus maintains detailed records of his patients’ progress, noting that half have returned to work. While these findings haven’t yet been published in a peer-reviewed study, he remains optimistic about the potential of HBOT for long COVID.
“If you look at the generally proven effects of this therapy and the possible causes of post-covid, I am confident that the therapy can be a solution for many patients,” he says.
Recent media reports have highlighted positive stories of long COVID patients experiencing relief through HBOT, further fueling hope for those seeking effective treatments.
Could hyperbaric oxygen therapy be a lifeline for those struggling with long COVID? While promising results have emerged from a small Israeli study, the scientific community remains cautious, calling for more rigorous research before embracing this treatment as a standard solution.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber,increasing the amount of oxygen that reaches the body’s tissues. This treatment has shown potential in addressing various medical conditions, and some long COVID patients have reported significant improvements after undergoing it.
Lidia de Vries,a long COVID patient,is a firm believer in the therapy’s benefits. “it really helped me,” she says. Though, some experts remain skeptical, questioning whether the observed improvements are due to the treatment itself or other factors, such as the natural course of recovery or the placebo effect.
Dr. Heringhaus, a proponent of further research, acknowledges the ethical challenges of conducting controlled studies. “Ideally, you want several controlled studies to convince the science,” he explains. “Actually, he should put a group of post-covid patients in the rooms without treating them. That’s the control group. Conducting these types of studies is hardly possible for several reasons.”
The ethical dilemma lies in subjecting vulnerable patients to a potentially ineffective treatment. Some medical professionals argue for a more pragmatic approach, suggesting that if enough doctors witness positive outcomes, it might be reasonable to accept the treatment’s efficacy.
Dr. Merel Hellemons, a pulmonologist at Erasmus MC, is leading research efforts to shed more light on the potential of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for long COVID. Her recent study, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, followed 232 patients who received the treatment. While the results showed a clinically relevant enhancement in quality of life for 65% of participants, Hellemons cautions against viewing it as a cure-all.
“The picture is variable,” she emphasizes. “It is indeed not a panacea. On average we see a significant improvement, but it is not the case that patients can suddenly do everything. They do get a better quality of life.we call this a cautiously positive result. I think it’s promising.”
However, Hellemons also highlights the need for vigilance, noting that approximately 15% of participants in her study experienced a worsening of their condition. “There are major differences in the group of post-covid patients,” she explains. “Not all patients respond positively to the treatment and for the group with severe post-covid…”
For some long COVID sufferers,hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) offers a glimmer of hope,but experts warn that more research is needed to determine its effectiveness and safety.
HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which increases the amount of oxygen that reaches the body’s tissues.Proponents claim it can help alleviate a range of long COVID symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath.
Lidia de Vries, a patient who underwent HBOT in Goes, Netherlands, credits the treatment with significantly improving her condition. “I started hard-buying last week and I am also back to work,” she shared.
However,not everyone experiences the same positive results. Jart Hoekstra, who received HBOT in Hoogeveen, reported minimal benefit. “After the treatment, I felt like before pretty quickly,” he said, adding that a rehabilitation program focused on listening to his body proved more effective.
The lack of conclusive evidence regarding HBOT’s efficacy for long COVID has raised concerns among medical professionals. Researcher Mark hellemons, who is conducting a follow-up study on the treatment, aims to identify which patients are most likely to benefit.
Professor Rob van Hulst, emeritus professor of Hyperbaric and Diving medicine at Amsterdam UMC, expressed strong reservations about the current widespread availability of HBOT for long COVID in the Netherlands. “If you are willing to pay the required amount of 8,000 euros, you can now enter that tank at many hyperbaric centers,” he noted, emphasizing the need for further research to determine which patient groups might be suitable candidates.
“I think the way it is happening now in the Netherlands is absolutely bad,” he stated, cautioning against “wishful thinking” and clinics motivated by financial gain. “I hope that further research will be done on this from an academic perspective.”
This sentiment is echoed in new guidance published in the Dutch guidelines database, which advises medical specialists to only consider HBOT for long COVID in a research setting due to insufficient evidence.
Adding to the complexity, Christian Heringhaus, a representative of the Association for Hyperbaric Medicine (NVvHG), warns against unapproved treatment centers offering “something that has nothing to do with medical treatment.” He stresses the importance of seeking treatment from centers affiliated with the NVvHG to ensure the use of medically approved devices and protocols.
The debate surrounding HBOT for long COVID highlights the urgent need for rigorous scientific inquiry to determine its true potential and limitations. Until then, patients and healthcare providers must proceed with caution, carefully weighing the potential benefits against the risks and uncertainties.
This is a great start to an article about the potential of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for long COVID. You’ve done a good job of:
* **Introducing the problem:** You clearly explain the debilitating nature of long COVID and the limitations of traditional treatments.
* **Presenting HBOT as a potential solution:** You describe how HBOT works and highlight its prior successes with other conditions.
* **Sharing anecdotal evidence:** You include compelling stories from patients who have found relief through HBOT.
* **acknowledging the need for more research:** You present the scientific community’s cautious stance and the ethical challenges involved in conducting controlled studies.
Here are some suggestions for further development:
**1. Deeper Dive into the Science:**
* Expand on the possible mechanisms by which HBOT might help long COVID. What specific physiological effects might account for the observed improvements?
* discuss the specific symptoms of long COVID that HBOT seems to address most effectively.
* Are there any studies investigating specific biomarkers or changes in brain scans that could provide more objective evidence of HBOT’s effectiveness?
**2. explore Different Perspectives:**
* Include quotes and perspectives from other medical professionals who are more skeptical of HBOT for long COVID. What are their concerns? What alternative treatments do they recommend?
**3. Practical Considerations:**
* How accessible is HBOT treatment for long COVID patients? Are there many centers offering it? What are the costs involved?
* What are the potential side effects or risks associated with HBOT?
**4. Looking Ahead:**
* What are the next steps for researching HBOT as a treatment for long COVID? Are there any large-scale clinical trials planned?
* What are the implications for patients if HBOT is ultimately proven to be effective?
**5.Strong Conclusion:**
* Summarize the key points of the article and reiterate the potential of HBOT, while acknowledging the need for continued research. Perhaps you can end with a hopeful note about the future of long COVID treatment.
By expanding on these areas, you can transform this into a complete and insightful piece that will inform and engage readers interested in this promising treatment option for long COVID.
