The article discusses the growing trend of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as a wellness treatment, but also highlights concerns about safety and regulation. HBOT is being marketed by spas, clinics, and wellness centers as a way to improve overall health and longevity, with some claims that it can even reverse certain diseases.
However, experts warn that not all HBOT treatments are created equal, and many facilities providing the therapy are not equipped with proper safety measures. Soft-sided chambers, in particular, have been identified as a risk due to their high pressure levels and potential for explosion or fire.
Tom Workman, a retired air force colonel and aerospace physiologist who has spent his retirement documenting unsafe HBOT practices, estimates that nearly 300 facilities in the US provide substandard care. He believes that the FDA should take an active role in regulating HBOT to ensure public safety, but notes that resources seem to be allocated to more high-profile problems.
Lawsuits can hold individual facilities accountable when incidents happen, but they do not provide broad protection for consumers. Some lawmakers have proposed mandating UHMS accreditation for facilities providing HBOT, which would ensure a minimum level of safety and standardization.
Experts advise anyone considering HBOT treatment to choose a center accredited by UHMS and to ask the right questions before undergoing treatment, such as whether they will be evaluated by a medical doctor, if the facility has an appointed safety coordinator on site, and if the technologists running their treatment have been properly trained and certified.
Ultimately, while HBOT may have some benefits, it is essential to approach this therapy with caution and to prioritize public safety.
However, experts warn that not all HBOT treatments are created equal, and many facilities providing the therapy are not equipped with proper safety measures. Soft-sided chambers, in particular, have been identified as a risk due to their high pressure levels and potential for explosion or fire.
Tom Workman, a retired air force colonel and aerospace physiologist who has spent his retirement documenting unsafe HBOT practices, estimates that nearly 300 facilities in the US provide substandard care. He believes that the FDA should take an active role in regulating HBOT to ensure public safety, but notes that resources seem to be allocated to more high-profile problems.
Lawsuits can hold individual facilities accountable when incidents happen, but they do not provide broad protection for consumers. Some lawmakers have proposed mandating UHMS accreditation for facilities providing HBOT, which would ensure a minimum level of safety and standardization.
Experts advise anyone considering HBOT treatment to choose a center accredited by UHMS and to ask the right questions before undergoing treatment, such as whether they will be evaluated by a medical doctor, if the facility has an appointed safety coordinator on site, and if the technologists running their treatment have been properly trained and certified.
Ultimately, while HBOT may have some benefits, it is essential to approach this therapy with caution and to prioritize public safety.
like what! all these new-age wellness treatments popping up everywhere and nobody's really checking if they're safe? 
I mean, 300 places in the US doing substandard care? That's wild. Soft-sided chambers are a major red flag 
. We need more regulation and oversight ASAP. Accreditation from UHMS would be a good start 
. Can't trust just lawsuits to keep people safe, we need proactive measures 
. Asking the right questions before undergoing treatment is key 
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. UHMS accreditation sounds like a no-brainer to me – if it can help standardize safety, then we should totally make that happen! 
. Get your facts straight before popping into an HBOT spa 
. If it sounds too good (or weird) to be true, it probably is 
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I'm sure the soft-sided chambers are totally safe... *cough* I've been reading about this stuff and it's kinda sketchy. Like, who needs safety protocols when you're paying good money to breathe in some fancy-schmancy gas? 
And seriously, isn't there a way for the FDA to regulate this without just throwing their hands up and saying "oh well"? 
It sounds like some places aren't even following the rules, you know? Those soft-sided chambers are so sketchy... 
And 300 facilities in the US doing substandard care is crazy! 
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. We need better protection for consumers, not just lawsuits when something goes wrong (although, let's be real, those are helpful too). And can we PLEASE get some UHMS accreditation going on? That'd give me some peace of mind 
.
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. I've got friends who swear by HBOT for everything from arthritis to anxiety, but isn't that just treating symptoms rather than the root cause of the problem?
And UHMS accreditation is a good idea - it's about time we started prioritizing actual medical expertise over some spa-facilitated fad. 
. I MEAN, WHO DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE GETTING SAFE AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENT?! ASKING QUESTIONS LIKE THOSE BEFORE SIGNING UP FOR HBOT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE 
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