Hyperbaric oxygen therapy offers significant benefits for people needing extra healing and recovery support. But if you have claustrophobia, you might be nervous about using the chamber. The good news: It likely won’t be a problem.
If you have claustrophobia, your anxiety about close, confined spaces can make it difficult to do lots of things, like riding in elevators, for instance. But it can also interfere with some medical treatments, like hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an innovative treatment that supports natural healing responses, giving your body the added oxygen it needs to promote recovery following illnesses, injuries, and some medical treatments.
At Vayu Advanced Wound Clinic and Hyperbarics, Dr. Manjulatha Badam uses HBOT to treat an array of health concerns in patients at her San Antonio, Texas, practice. If you’re wondering whether claustrophobia could prevent you from undergoing HBOT, here’s what Dr. Badam wants you to know.
Understanding HBOT
Oxygen plays a central role in helping your body heal. With plenty of oxygen, your body can fight off damaging inflammation and repair or replace damaged tissue with new, healthy tissue much more quickly.
HBOT provides your body with extra oxygen support by delivering pure oxygen in a pressurized environment. Combined, these benefits help your lungs absorb more oxygen and deliver it to your bloodstream with every breath you take.
HBOT is widely used to help speed healing in people with poor healing responses, including people with diabetes or circulatory disorders that hamper oxygen delivery. HBOT also helps treat:
- Refractory osteomyelitis
- Decompression sickness
- Compromised tissue grafts and flaps
- Burn injuries
- Delayed radiation injuries
- Pain management
- Cardiac health
- Polymyalgia, muscle, and joint aches
- Inflammatory bowel disease
As with other therapies, we can customize HBOT for your specific needs.
Types of Hyperbaric Chambers (and which feel less confining)
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can be delivered in different chamber designs. Understanding the setup helps many people with claustrophobia feel more at ease before their first session.
- Monoplace chambers (single-person): You relax on a padded table inside a clear acrylic tube. The transparent walls allow full visibility of the room and your care team, which often eases the “closed-in” feeling many people anticipate.
- Multiplace chambers (room-style): These accommodate several people at once. You sit or recline while breathing oxygen via a hood or mask. The added space can feel more “open” to some patients.
- Facility standards & safety: In the United States, hyperbaric chambers are regulated medical devices; the FDA explains how HBOT devices are overseen and which uses are cleared.
Practical Ways We Make HBOT Comfortable for Claustrophobia
If tight spaces make you nervous, small, proactive steps can make a big difference. Here’s how we help patients feel calm and in control:
- Orientation before your first session: A short “trial run” to see the chamber, hear the normal sounds, and practice getting in/out. Many patients report their anxiety drops once they know what to expect.
- Visibility + communication: Our clear viewing windows keep sightlines open. You’ll have two-way communication with the team at all times, and we monitor you continuously.
- Breathing and pressure-equalizing techniques: We coach you on slow nasal breathing, paced exhales, and simple ear-clearing maneuvers (like swallowing or gently yawning) to stay comfortable as pressure changes—similar to what you feel during takeoff/landing on a plane. MedlinePlus notes this ear-pressure sensation as a normal part of HBOT.
- Comfort setup: Positioning supports, a light blanket, and a focus activity (e.g., guided audio) help your mind settle.
- Gradual exposure: We can start with shorter, slower pressurization on your early visits and extend as your comfort grows.
- You set the stop button: If at any point you want to pause or end the session, tell us—we’ll stop and reassess together. You’re always in control.
HBOT and Claustrophobia
HBOT requires a special chamber in which we are able to provide you with the optimal amount of pressurized oxygen. During an HBOT session, you recline and relax inside the chamber while breathing normally.
The chamber itself is spacious, but if you have claustrophobia, you might wonder if you’ll be comfortable. The good news is that the chamber itself is designed to avoid the feeling of being closed in.
Specifically, the chamber we use features a large, clear viewing window that allows you to see the surrounding room. Although you’ll be inside the chamber, the large window helps you feel like a part of the larger environment. And, of course, you become more comfortable and relaxed with every session.
We monitor you throughout the treatment. If you feel uncomfortable at any time, simply let us know, and we’ll adjust your therapy or complete your session if needed. You’re always in control of your therapy.
“What if I still feel anxious?” Options we can discuss
For a small subset of patients, claustrophobia remains intense despite preparation. If that’s you, we’ll individualize your plan:
- Schedule adjustments: First-thing appointments (when clinics are quieter), extra time for step-by-step orientation, or having a support person visible in-room.
- Technique layering: Guided relaxation, box-breathing, or grounding exercises tailored to you.
- Chamber choice & pacing: Selecting the chamber style you find least confining and using a slower pressurization curve on early sessions.
- Medical options when appropriate: In select cases and only after screening, we can coordinate with your prescribing clinician about a short-acting anxiolytic prior to HBOT.
- Re-evaluation of indications: If anxiety remains a barrier, we revisit whether HBOT is essential for your condition, discuss alternatives, or time treatment alongside skills-based anxiety care—keeping you safe, informed, and comfortable.
Experience the Benefits of HBOT
Claustrophobia doesn’t have to stand in the way of HBOT. If you’re uncomfortable in enclosed spaces and you’re concerned about how you’ll feel during your therapy, let us know so we can help you prepare and relax.
Worried about claustrophobia and hyperbaric oxygen therapy? Discover how HBOT at Vayu Advanced Wound Clinic in San Antonio is designed for your comfort and healing. Book your appointment or contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is a hyperbaric chamber claustrophobic?
For some individuals with claustrophobia, the enclosed space of a hyperbaric chamber can feel restrictive. However, many chambers are equipped with clear walls, comfortable interiors, and communication systems to help ease anxiety during therapy. Discussing concerns with the medical team can also help alleviate fears.
2. Who is not a candidate for hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
HBOT may not be suitable for people with untreated pneumothorax (collapsed lung), certain lung conditions, or those who cannot equalize ear pressure. Pregnant individuals and those with certain medical implants should consult doctor before undergoing treatment.
3. What is the cost of HBOT therapy?
The cost of HBOT therapy can vary widely depending on the location, facility, and treatment plan. On average, a session ranges from $200 to $400, with multiple sessions often required for effective results.
4. Can a hyperbaric chamber trigger claustrophobia?
It can if tight spaces already make you anxious, but many patients do well because clear chamber walls, continuous communication, and gradual acclimatization reduce the “closed-in” sensation.
5. Are hyperbaric chambers open or closed?
Both exist. Monoplace chambers are clear, single-person tubes; multiplace chambers are room-style and may feel more spacious.
6. What sensations are normal in a chamber?
You’ll likely notice ear pressure changes during pressurization and depressurization—similar to flying. We teach simple ear-clearing techniques and paced breathing to stay comfortable, and MedlinePlus confirms this sensation is typical during HBOT.
7. Who shouldn’t have HBOT?
Certain conditions (like untreated pneumothorax) are typically contraindications. Your clinician will review your health history against current safety guidance, and the FDA provides details on approved HBOT uses and device safety.