“Oxygen and the Dark Ages”

“Oxygen and the Dark Ages”

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Astonishment at the reaction of doctors to the words 'hyperbaric', 'oxygen' and 'therapy' is frequently expressed on the lists. The public find most doctors dismissive and some openly hostile. This attempts an explanation.

The primary reason is that the teaching about oxygen in our medical schools is inadequate, especially in these areas.

1. The importance of barometric pressure in determining oxygen dosage.
2. Understanding that the plasma concentration alone determines the rate of transport of oxygen into tissue.
3. The most essential function of blood flow is to transport oxygen.
4. Oxygen not only acts in relation to metabolism it acts as a modulator of many cellular functions.
5. That most diseases affect not only the cells of a tissue, but also the blood supply.
6. That both a decrease and an increase in blood supply can cause hypoxia, defined as a deficiency in the level of oxygen required for normal function.
7. That an adequate level of oxygen is essential to recovery in disease.

Educationally, Epictatus (3 BC) understood the problem; "It is impossible to learn something that we think we already know".

Regardless of the intellectual aspects, to admit ignorance about an issue of such central importance is very emotionally challenging. It is to admit that we are failing to use enough oxygen and that patients are suffering and dying unnecessarily from our failure to use a simple method of treatment, but we are truly in the dark ages.

Best wishes
Philip James MD

Wolfson Hyperbaric Medicine Unit
University of Dundee
Ninewells Hospital and Medical School
Dundee DD1 9SY