03/29/2026

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S05_E12 - Hyperbaric Medicine - What the Heck is That?

With Special Guest:  Dr. Thomas Masters 

Pressure makes a diamond, and as it turns out, higher atmospheric pressure can help our bodies heal, too!  Welcome to the world of hyperbaric medicine, where patients climb into a chamber, breathe pure oxygen at higher-than-normal atmospheric pressure, and let their bodies do something remarkable — heal faster than they ever could at sea level. It sounds like science fiction, but it's been around since the 1600s, and today it's FDA-approved for everything from stubborn wounds, to carbon monoxide poisoning, to radiation injuries.  But how does it work?  Is it safe?  And what's it like inside that chamber?!

On Episode 12, we'll sit down with emergency medicine physician Dr. Thomas Masters, who will walk us through the basics of hyperbaric medicine, how it works, the conditions it treats, and of course, what it's like to spend time inside the chamber (bring a book...).  This is a great chance to learn about a fascinating part of medicine, that most people have never even heard of, from an expert in the field.  Join us!

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