Let’s face it. Stress is one, if not the most significant factor, in our society contributing to the development of physical, emotional and psychological illness. Diseases associated with stress include high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, gastrointestinal problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, diabetes, obesity, cancer, immune deficiency, anxiety, obsessive convulsive behavior, depression, substance abuse and others. Reducing stress is essential to all of us to improve our health and well being. Some ways which have been shown to help us manage stress include weight reduction, proper nutrition, exercise, acupuncture and yoga.
Another treatment modality showing promise for stress reduction is hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Resting comfortably in a pure oxygen environment at increased atmospheric pressure for an hour not only restores stagnant and oxygen depleted cells in the body, it provides an environment free of telephones, cell phones and pagers. The mind and the body are temporarily removed from the stresses of work, family, finances and political matters while oxygen is delivered to the entire body.