Hyperbaric oxygen · Simply explained
How hyperbaric
oxygen works
What is HBOT—and why are people talking about it?
Hyperbaric sessions combine breathing oxygen with higher-than-normal air pressure. Here’s what happens inside the chamber, how oxygen travels through your body, and what researchers are exploring.
Oxygen and pressure
Oxygen and pressure
Higher pressure allows more oxygen to dissolve in the blood. The amount delivered depends on the oxygen you breathe, the pressure, and the session plan.
A simple way to picture it
Breathe → blood → tissues.
You breathe oxygen. Your blood carries it. Your tissues use it in the work of staying healthy and repairing damage.
The oxygen supply, chamber pressure, and time inside all play a part in the experience.
And that number you keep seeing?
2.0 ATA is a pressure measurement.
ATA tells you how much total air pressure is inside the chamber. It does not tell you the percentage of oxygen you breathe.
ATA
Everyday air pressure at sea level.
ATA
Twice that total pressure.
Our wellness range includes options up to 2.0 ATA, depending on the model. Air pressurizes our chambers; oxygen is supplied separately through a mask. The chamber is not filled with 100% oxygen.
Follow the oxygen
How oxygen travels through your body
You breathe it in. Your blood carries it. Pressure changes how much can travel dissolved in the liquid part of your blood.
01 · Breathe
In through your lungs.
Oxygen crosses from the lungs’ tiny air sacs into nearby blood vessels. From there, it has two ways to travel.
02 · Travel
Meet the usual carriers.
Most oxygen rides on hemoglobin, a protein inside red blood cells. A smaller amount dissolves directly in plasma—the liquid part of your blood.
03 · Add pressure + oxygen
More in the liquid, too.
Breathing oxygen at higher pressure raises its pressure in the lungs and blood. This allows more oxygen to dissolve in plasma, alongside the oxygen carried by red blood cells.
Simplified illustrations, not to scale. Blue dots represent dissolved molecules—not gas bubbles. Their number is illustrative, not a measured increase.
04 · Reach the tissues
From the bloodstream to the cells.
Oxygen moves from areas with more available oxygen toward areas with less. Raising oxygen levels in the blood can help more reach surrounding tissues, where cells use it for energy and repair.
Circulation still matters. Added oxygen does not automatically reach every injured area or guarantee healing.
The science, in one sentence
Henry’s law: at a given temperature, increasing oxygen’s partial pressure increases the amount that dissolves in liquid. That is why both the oxygen concentration you breathe and the chamber pressure matter.
Learn more: Blood & plasma · Johns Hopkins · The science of oxygen solubility · More about hyperbaric oxygen
Inside a typical session
What happens during a session
01 · Get comfortable
Before your session
Your operator explains the chamber, oxygen delivery, and how to communicate throughout the session. Questions are very much invited.
02 · Ease into it
The pressure changes.
You may notice fullness in your ears, a bit like flying. Your operator explains what to do. Speak up straight away if anything feels uncomfortable.
03 · Settle in
During and after your session
Breathe as instructed using the system provided. At the end, the pressure returns gradually before you leave the chamber.
What can it do for you?
Recovery and wellbeing: what we know
Different goals have different levels of evidence. Start with the topic that brought you here.
Questions about recovery?
If an injury brought you here, start with the professional overseeing your recovery. Ask whether a chamber is suitable for you and what setup they recommend.
We can explain our models and equipment so you have clear details to discuss. Our wellness chambers are not a replacement for the care you need.
After surgery.
Every recovery is different. Check with your surgeon before adding chamber sessions to your routine, including when to start and whether our setup fits their advice.
We’ll help you understand the chamber’s pressure range, oxygen supply, and practical setup.
Skin & collagen.
Think of collagen as part of your skin’s supporting framework. A small study of 13 older men found increased collagen density and changes in elastic fibers after a specific HBOT course.
These early findings do not establish that our chambers reverse skin aging.
Explore the skin study →Telomeres & healthy aging.
Telomeres are protective ends on your chromosomes—often compared with the tips on shoelaces. A study enrolling 35 adults aged 64 and older found longer telomeres in certain blood cells after 60 HBOT sessions.
This measured changes in cells, not a reversal of a person’s age or proof of a longer life. Larger, controlled studies are needed.
Explore the telomere study →And everyday wellbeing?
People also explore chambers for fitness recovery and feeling their best. Benefits for general wellness are still being studied. Set a clear goal and discuss whether the evidence fits your situation.
How this relates to our chambers
How chamber setups differ
Our chambers are offered for wellness use, with options up to 2.0 ATA depending on the model. Air pressurizes the chamber, and oxygen is supplied separately through a mask.
The studies above used specific oxygen levels, session schedules, and supervision. Matching a pressure number alone does not mean matching those results. If you are recovering from an injury or surgery, or have a health concern, check with your doctor before starting.
Ask us about a chamber’s specifications →A few good questions
Before your first session
What should I check before a session?
Talk with your doctor about your health history, medicines, and whether pressure and added oxygen are suitable for you. Let your operator know about ear or sinus trouble and any discomfort. Using a chamber can cause injury; it isn’t suitable for everyone.
Can I bring my phone or wear my usual clothes?
Ask first. Follow the specific chamber’s rules for clothing, electronics, and everything brought inside. Oxygen increases fire risk, even when it is supplied through a mask. Training, supervision, and proper maintenance matter.
How much oxygen will I breathe?
That depends on the oxygen equipment, mask fit, and setup. The pressure number—such as 2.0 ATA—is not an oxygen percentage. We can provide the specifications for the model you’re considering.
What does HBOT stand for?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy. In everyday language, “hyperbaric” means higher-than-normal air pressure. HBOT combines that increased pressure with breathing oxygen. Equipment and session plans vary.
Want the safety details? Read the FDA’s safe-use guidance. Always follow your model’s instructions.
Your options
Explore chambers, rentals and mobile sessions
You don’t need every answer before you talk to us. That’s what the conversation is for.
Visit
Let us come to you.
Explore a mobile session in Southern California, with our team there to help.
Explore mobile visits →Lease
Make room at home.
Ask about weekly or monthly chamber rentals and what fits your space.
See leasing options →Own
Find your fit.
Compare chamber sizes, pressure options, included equipment, and support.
Browse chambers →Questions about our equipment?
Call our team
“Will it fit through my door?” is a great place to start.
We’ll help with the practical details, minus the jargon.