Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is becoming increasingly popular with people looking to support their wellbeing, recovery and performance. But if you’ve never experienced a session before, it’s completely natural to have questions.
What does it feel like? How many sessions will I need? Can I breathe inside the chamber?
We understand that trying something new can feel unfamiliar, which is why our experienced team takes the time to explain every step of the process.
Here are five of the questions we’re asked most often about hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
1. How many HBOT sessions do I need?
This is one of the most common questions we hear, and the honest answer is: it depends on you.
Everyone arrives at HybO2 House with different goals, lifestyles and reasons for exploring HBOT, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
We always recommend beginning with an initial course of 10 sessions, completed as close together as possible. This allows your body to experience repeated periods of increased oxygen availability and gives you the opportunity to understand how HBOT fits into your own wellbeing journey.
HBOT is not designed around a single isolated session. Many protocols use a series of sessions delivered close together because the effects of repeated oxygen exposure are considered cumulative.
After completing your first 10 sessions, we encourage you to reflect on your experience, how you feel, if necessary, what your medical professionals have noticed and what you would like to achieve moving forward.
Some clients choose to continue with maintenance sessions 2-4 times per month, while others decide to complete another course of 10 sessions.
Your journey is personal, and our team will support you in finding an approach that feels right for you.
2. Can I breathe inside the chamber?
Yes.
Inside our chambers, you breathe near-pure oxygen through our Built-In Breathing System (BIBS) mask during your session.
The chamber itself is also filled with air, meaning you can breathe normally throughout your experience. If you need to adjust your mask or remove it, you can do so safely.
Before your session begins, our experienced team will explain how the equipment works and what to expect, so you can relax knowing you are fully supported.
3. Why do I take my mask off for 5 minutes during my session?
During longer HBOT sessions, you may notice that we ask you to remove your oxygen mask for short periods. These are known as air breaks.
At HybO2 House, our 90-minute sessions include two five-minute air breaks, where you temporarily breathe normal chamber air before returning to near-pure oxygen.
This is a carefully designed part of our protocol, not a break from your treatment.
These changes between higher oxygen exposure and normal air are linked to a process known as the Hyperoxic-Hypoxic Paradox.
The principle behind this is that the body responds not only to oxygen availability itself, but also to changes in oxygen levels. Moving between periods of high oxygen and normal air creates a controlled fluctuation that can trigger cellular signalling responses involved in the body’s natural adaptive processes.
By incorporating these carefully timed air breaks, we create a structured oxygen cycling approach as part of the HBOT experience at HybO2 House.
4. What does it feel like inside the chamber?
For many people, the experience is much more relaxing than they initially expect.
During compression (when chamber pressure increases) and decompression (when pressure returns to normal), you may notice a sensation of pressure in your ears, similar to the feeling you experience during take-off or landing on an aeroplane.
This is completely normal and our team will guide you through some simple techniques to help you equalise your ears comfortably.
If you find it difficult at any point, we can slow the compression down and give you more time. Our team has extensive experience supporting first-time visitors, so you are never left to figure it out alone.
The pressure sensation is usually the only unfamiliar part of the experience, and once the chamber reaches treatment pressure, most people settle in and enjoy the opportunity to relax and switch off.
5. How will I feel afterwards?
This is one of the questions where the answer is different for everyone.
Some clients describe feeling energised after their session, while others feel deeply relaxed or even tired. Sime people notice they feel less stiff, pain has lessened, but one thing we hear from almost everyone is:
“I’m hungry!”
Many people find they are hungry after a session, possibly because the body is using energy as it supports natural recovery and repair processes.
Everyone response differently and there is no single way you should feel afterwards.
The good news is there is no downtime. You can drive, return to work, exercise or continue with your day as normal.
We do encourage you to take your time before rushing way. We’ll offer you a glass of water with electrolytes and our comfortable clinic gives you the opportunity to sit, relax and rehydrate before you leave.
Still have questions about HBOT?
Trying something new can feel daunting and we believe understanding the process is just as important and experiencing it.
Our team is always happy to answer your questions, explain what to expect and help you decide whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy is right for your wellbeing goals.
If you’d like to experience HBOT for yourself, reach out to us at HybO2 House, 01962 862 111 and book your first session.