Improve sleep quality, reduce inflammation, support injury recovery: How an oxygen boost might help

Feeling constantly tired, mentally foggy or just not quite at your best is often  brushed off as stress, ageing or lack of sleep. But what if the issue runs deeper – right down to how much oxygen your body is actually getting?

“When our body does not have enough oxygen, even simple physical and mental tasks can start to feel harder. We may find it more difficult to catch our breath, feel unusually fatigued, or notice a drop in focus and attention,” says Dr Isaac Wong, founder and medical director of Artisan Regenerative Centre, a wellness and longevity centre.

“For example, if our lungs, red blood cells and muscles are not filled with enough oxygen, we would find it harder to perform a 2.4km run. Brain fog may also occur when there’s not enough oxygen flow to our brain cells,” he adds. 

Beyond exercise performance and mental clarity, oxygen levels influence many other processes in the body. Dr Wong explains that oxygen impacts blood circulation, inflammation, the immune system, and even how well we relax, sleep and maintain healthier skin.

“Oxygen plays a role in nourishing and supporting our organs with better cellular activity, recovery and repair,” he says. 

It is this foundational role of oxygen that has led to therapies designed to optimise how our bodies absorb and use it.

How hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help the body

One treatment that The Artisan Clinic has been offering since May 2025 is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT.

HBOT involves breathing in pure oxygen in a pressurised chamber, typically at pressures higher than normal atmospheric levels. This hour-long process increases both the amount of oxygen you breathe and how efficiently your body absorbs it.

Dr Wong explains: “When we breathe in pure oxygen at higher-than-normal atmospheric pressures of up to 1.99 atmospheres absolute (ATA) in a sealed chamber, the pressure gradient helps push more oxygen into the airways and lungs. This increases the amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood, allowing it to be more efficiently transported to the body’s organs and cells.”

According to Dr Wong, increased oxygen delivery can help reduce overall inflammation in the body by supporting the formation of new blood vessels, improving circulation and allowing immune cells to move more easily.

“HBOT also helps strengthen the body’s antioxidant defences. This allows the body to better protect itself against oxidative damage caused by environmental factors such as processed foods, ultraviolet damage from the sun, pollutants, irritants, as well as internal triggers like stress and lack of sleep,” he adds.

Following the treatment, Dr Wong says his patients report feeling more energised and mentally alert. HBOT can also help relax the muscles and support better sleep, contributing to an overall sense of physical and mental recovery.

“They also experience less fatigue, less muscle aches, less joint pains and faster recovery from sports activities,” he notes.

“But not everybody would feel the same or all of the effects after one session. Usually multiple sessions are needed for more marked improvements to be felt.”

According to Dr Wong, as oxygen builds up in the muscles and body cells over several sessions, the body’s processes become more efficient, making the effects more noticeable.

Beyond how patients feel after the sessions, HBOT can also support changes at a cellular level, which helps with collagen production and, in turn, healthier-looking skin, says Dr Wong. “It can help improve better blood flow and overall skin quality, including texture, pore size and pigmentation,” he adds.

Inside a HBOT session: What can patients expect

At The Artisan Clinic, patients interested in HBOT begin by registering and filling in detailed questionnaires covering their health and medical history, expectations and concerns.

This is followed by a consultation with a HBOT consultant or a doctor from the clinic, who addresses these questions in greater depth and determines if the patient is suitable for the treatment.

During the treatment, the patient enters a two-seat chamber that slowly pressurises to the desired atmospheric level. Communication remains possible throughout the session via an intercom, and the consultant is visible through the transparent door.

Dr Wong typically recommends five to 10 sessions initially, starting with 60 minutes per session. “As patients become more accustomed to the treatment, they may progress to 90 minutes or up to 120 minutes,” he says.

At the end of the session, the chamber is gradually depressurised before the patient exits.

Dr Wong notes that one possible side effect of HBOT is ear or sinus discomfort due to the pressure changes.

“This can be addressed with proper equalisation techniques during slow compression and decompression, which are taught during the procedure,” he explains.

“Another possible side effect is oxygen toxicity such as chest pain, trouble breathing and dizziness. This is prevented by the machine’s Air Break Protocol. This alternates between pure oxygen and normal air – 20 minutes on, five minutes off – to help mitigate the risk of oxygen poisoning.”

He adds that the specialised chamber is designed to keep carbon dioxide levels low and oxygen levels stable throughout the continuous exchange of air and oxygen.

“The BIBS or Built-In Breathing System is engineered to deliver a consistent, high-flow oxygen supply, ensuring optimal performance and user comfort within the chamber, enabling users to achieve their intended therapeutic outcomes,” says Dr Wong.

According to Dr Wong, the system maintains stable oxygen delivery while minimising breathing resistance, allowing users to breathe naturally even during longer sessions. Its integrated design also supports better flow consistency, reducing fluctuations that can compromise therapeutic outcomes.

“There is also a dedicated carbon dioxide discharge mechanism to ensure prompt removal of carbon dioxide directly from the client’s respiration,” he adds.

“Our high-flow BIBS configuration ensures a more stable and enriched oxygen supply throughout the session, supports more efficient oxygen uptake, and enhances overall therapy effectiveness.”

However, HBOT is not for everyone. Dr Wong cautions that individuals with lung issues, ear or sinus problems, upper respiratory infections, claustrophobia, seizure disorders, fever, heart conditions, diabetes or who are pregnant should consult their doctor before undergoing this treatment. This is especially important for those with a collapsed lung, as pressure changes can be life-threatening.

The same advice goes for patients who use medical devices such as pacemakers and epidural pumps, are on certain medications, or have eye conditions or blood disorders.

Find out more about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.