Concussion & Headache

 

Whether it is due to a sports injury, car accident, or other trauma, a concussion can produce headaches, problems with concentration, memory, balance and coordination. Our office provides a breakthrough mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This is an alternative medicine option that may be very helpful. Our team has years of experience providing this treatment to patients with headache, concussion and post-concussion syndrome, fibromyalgia and
post stroke.
 
Oxygen therapy can support the brain's own healing processes. Our treatments involve a one-hour session at 1.3 ATA (atmospheres absolute), breathing 95% oxygen by non-rebreather mask. This delivers 5.8 times the available oxygen in our atmospheric air.2
 
The brain is the most highly metabolic organ in our body. It consumes 20% of the oxygen we breathe and 25% of all available carbohydrates despite being only 10% of our total body weight. With that much metabolic activity, the brain is normally slow to heal because it struggles to function and repair simultaneously. In a higher oxygen environment at one-hour intervals, the brain has access to more resources for healing. Our clinical experience has
shown over multiple cases that this treatment can be helpful for concussion, post-concussion syndrome, chronic headaches, fibromyalgia and untreated obstructive sleep apnea.
 
Oxygen is a vasoconstrictor, meaning that it causes blood vessels to shrink, thereby relieving pressure on the brain. Caffeine, commonly used to alleviate headaches, works in a similar way. Indeed, breathing oxygen is a proven treatment for cluster headaches.1 This may be associated with rehabilitation of vascular tone and/or re-balancing the autonomic nervous system by reducing sympathetic activation (fight or flight response).
Over the years, we have identified 6-10% of patients with post-concussion syndrome that do not respond well or completely to the oxygen treatments. In this group, we have found a level of vestibular dysfunction that can be identified by a quality and thorough neurological exam. These patients usually respond well to vestibular training rehabilitation. It is important to assess what exactly is being treated. The first step in solving a problem is to

clearly identify the underlying problem or “root cause”. Dr. Zinnanti provides treatments that can
relieve symptoms while continuing an investigation into root cause.

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Disclaimer: low-pressure, fabric hyperbaric chambers (operating at less than 1.4 ATA) marketed for sports and
alternative medicine, have a U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for Acute Mountain Sickness only and are designed to be compressed only with air.2 Use of mild hyperbaric oxygen for the conditions listed above is considered off-label and alternative or complimentary medical care.

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1. Am Fam Physician. 2005 Feb 15;71(4):717-724.

2. UHMS Position Statement on mild HBOT https://www.uhms.org/images/Position-
Statements/UHMS_Position_Statement_LP_chambers_revised.pdf

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Call 831-600-7697 To Schedule an Appointment Today!