Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is gaining attention as a promising tool for improving heart health and aiding recovery from cardiac events. According to Dr. Carol L. Henricks, M.D., owner of NorthStar Hyperbaric in Tucson, HBOT can play a key role in healing heart conditions, including heart attacks and decreased cardiac output.

“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps your body heal by increasing oxygen availability in the bloodstream,” Henricks explains. “When you’re in a hyperbaric chamber, the pressure increases oxygen levels by up to 700 percent, which triggers healing responses throughout the body, including the heart.”

During a hyperbaric session, patients sit in a sealed chamber at increased pressure, similar to what’s experienced at the bottom of a deep swimming pool. The elevated pressure allows more oxygen to be absorbed by the bloodstream, enhancing the body’s natural repair mechanisms. Studies have shown that HBOT can improve cardiac ejection fraction—a measure of how well the heart pumps blood.

Henricks notes that Japan has embraced hyperbaric therapy for emergency heart and brain treatments. “In Japan, if you call emergency services for a suspected heart attack or stroke, they’ll arrive in a hyperbaric ambulance to preserve heart and brain tissue,” she says. “Here in the U.S., we’re just beginning to develop hyperbaric ambulance systems, with New Orleans leading the way.”

HBOT is particularly valuable in the critical recovery phase after CPR, when the body needs extra oxygen to repair hypoxic injury. “After a heart attack or cardiac arrest, your heart and brain are oxygen-starved. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps replenish that oxygen, supporting recovery and improving outcomes,” adds Henricks.

As awareness of hyperbaric therapy grows, so does its potential to save lives and improve quality of life for those with heart conditions. “This therapy is about more than just healing injuries—it’s about giving people back their vitality,” says Henricks. “Your heart works hard every day to keep you going. It deserves some support in return.”