Spring Flares and Chronic Fatigue: How HBOT Helps You Get Your Life Back
Reviewed by: Elizabeth Chan, NP (Medical Director, MD Hyperbaric)
Spring is supposed to feel like a reset. But if you’re dealing with chronic fatigue, whether from fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, long COVID, or another ongoing condition, this season can feel like the opposite. The exhaustion gets heavier. The pain ramps up. And the distance between the life you want and the life you’re actually living feels like it’s getting wider.
Here’s the thing: you’re not making it up. There are real, biological reasons why spring makes chronic fatigue worse. And there’s a real therapy that can help.
Why Spring Makes Chronic Fatigue Worse
When the seasons shift, your body has to adjust in ways that most healthy people never even notice, but that can hit hard when your system is already struggling. Your sleep-wake cycle shifts with the changing daylight, which throws off cortisol (your body’s stress and energy hormone). Changes in air pressure can dial up pain signals. And the immune activation from spring allergens can worsen the low-level brain inflammation that many chronic fatigue researchers now believe is at the root of the condition.
At the deepest level, the problem comes down to your cells’ ability to make energy. Inside every cell are tiny structures called mitochondria. Think of them as batteries. In chronic fatigue conditions, those batteries aren’t charging properly, so your cells can’t produce enough fuel (called ATP) to keep up with even basic demands. That’s why getting out of bed can feel like running a marathon. When spring stressors pile on top of already-struggling mitochondria, the result is a flare.[3]
How HBOT Gets to the Root of the Problem
HBOT works by having you breathe pure oxygen under pressure, which saturates your blood with far more oxygen than normal breathing delivers. For someone with chronic fatigue, this matters because oxygen is the fuel your mitochondria need to produce energy. More oxygen means your cellular batteries can recharge more efficiently.
A clinical trial showed that HBOT reduced the severity of CFS symptoms and improved quality of life, with the benefits becoming clear over the course of 40 treatment sessions.[1] A separate randomized controlled trial found that patients with long COVID and persistent fatigue saw significant improvements in brain function, sleep, and mental health symptoms after HBOT.[2]
But the benefits go beyond energy. HBOT also calms brain inflammation by shifting the balance of immune signals away from the inflammatory side. It helps turn down “central sensitization,” which is when your nervous system gets stuck in a state of heightened sensitivity and everything hurts more than it should. And it triggers the release of growth factors that help damaged tissue and nerves repair themselves.[4]
Patients at MD Hyperbaric often describe it as “getting hours back in their day.” The afternoon crash lifts. The brain fog clears. The pain becomes something you can manage instead of something that manages you.
A Path Forward
Chronic fatigue is not a life sentence, and spring flares don’t have to set you back every year. If you’ve been struggling with exhaustion, pain, and brain fog, especially when the seasons change, HBOT offers a safe, non-invasive way to address what’s happening at the cellular level.
The first step is a conversation. Schedule a consultation at MD Hyperbaric and let’s figure out if HBOT is right for your situation. Getting your life back shouldn’t have to wait for the perfect season.
Ready to learn more? Schedule a consultation at MD Hyperbaric to find out if HBOT is right for you.
References & Supporting Research
[1] Akarsu S, et al. “The efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of chronic fatigue syndrome.” Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine. 2013;40(2):197-200.
[2] Zilberman-Itskovich S, et al. “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves neurocognitive functions and symptoms of post-COVID condition: randomized controlled trial.” Scientific Reports. 2022;12:11252.
[3] Hadanny A, et al. “Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment: Effects on Mitochondrial Function and Oxidative Stress.” Biomolecules. 2022;12(1):12.
[4] Efrati S, Ben-Jacob E. “Reflections on the neurotherapeutic effects of hyperbaric oxygen.” Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. 2014;14(3):233-236.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or insurance advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for personal recommendations and check with your insurance company for current policy details.
What Our Patients Say
Real Patients. Real Results
Post-Surgical Recovery“Getting HBOT helped me a lot with my wound healing. I noticed my scars remarkably lightened. My mood and energy levels improved as well in just three weeks of getting two sessions each week — despite my demanding work schedule, I felt like I had more energy.”Namae
Inflammatory Bowel Disease“I was prescribed HBOT by my specialist to treat a complex and traumatic issue stemming from IBD and reconstructive GI surgeries. I did a full course and absolutely saw improvement right away. The staff are amazing, very professional and caring.”Kathleen
Injury Recovery“I broke my wrist playing tennis and came to MD Hyperbaric Westchester to help speed up my recovery. After a few sessions I have felt a tremendous improvement in energy, sleep — and my doctor says my wrist is healing remarkably well.”John
Cancer Adjunct“I'm a breast cancer survivor, and after radiation near my lungs, I thought this treatment might be useful. I can feel a difference in my breathing and cognition. I definitely recommend it if your body has gone through a traumatic experience.”Aziza
Wellness“I recently began using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at MD Hyperbaric, and it's been one of the most unique and impactful wellness treatments I've explored. I was drawn in by the potential benefits for anxiety, fatigue, and overall cellular repair, but I didn't expect it to feel this restorative — and my skin is glowing too!”Olesia
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Frequently Asked Questions
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a proven treatment that enhances healing by flooding the body with oxygen. Used for over 100 years, it supports brain health, anti-aging, athletic recovery, and medical conditions by boosting oxygen in blood, tissues, and organs. Patients breathe 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber, accelerating recovery and promoting cellular repair.
HBOT is FDA-approved for 14 conditions like burns, carbon monoxide poisoning, and non-healing wounds. Emerging research also supports its use for post-surgical recovery, brain injury, fatigue, inflammation, athletic recovery, and anti-aging. Our medical team will assess if HBOT is right for you.
Yes, HBOT is safe when properly supervised. At MD Hyperbaric, treatments are protocol-driven, medically overseen, and administered by certified staff. Our Medical Director and onsite Safety Director ensure every session is carefully monitored, and we continuously update our protocols based on the latest research to prioritize patient safety.
Typically, most treatment sessions are approximately 60 minutes, though some conditions may require up to 90 or 120 minutes. Pressurization and depressurization may add about 20 minutes to the appointment, so you should plan for about 90 minutes for your visit.
The number of sessions depends on the condition being treated. Some patients may benefit from a few sessions, while others may require a more extended treatment plan. A typical protocol will involve 10-40 daily sessions to build up oxygen in the cells. Our Medical Director will recommend a specific treatment plan to address your goals and needs.
Prior to treatment, please try to avoid alcohol or carbonated drinks. It is best to avoid smoking and other tobacco products during your treatment period, as they may interfere with the body's ability to transport oxygen. Otherwise, there are no restrictions for food or activity before or after your treatment. We encourage you to have healthy meals and stay hydrated.
Most patients find HBOT sessions relaxing. You will rest comfortably in a 7.5-foot-long steel chamber, breathing 100% pure oxygen through a mask. During pressurization and depressurization, you may feel pressure changes similar to airplane travel. A trained technician will monitor you throughout the session.
The term "dive" is used because the process simulates the experience of a deep-sea dive in a pressurized environment. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has deep roots in diving as an important therapy for treating divers experiencing decompression sickness.
At MD Hyperbaric, we use the FDA-cleared OxyHealth Fortius420, a spacious hard-shell chamber delivering 100% medical-grade oxygen via mask. It operates up to 3.0 ATA, allows tailored pressures, supports air breaks, and includes three windows for comfort and safety.
At MD Hyperbaric, we use hard-shell chambers that deliver 100% medical-grade oxygen at higher pressures for superior therapeutic benefits. Soft-shell chambers operate at lower pressures without medical-grade oxygen, making them less effective for medical treatment.
Our team will assess your medical history and specific circumstances through an intake process. An initial evaluation with certified staff and the Medical Director will determine your eligibility for HBOT.
No referral is needed. Our Medical Director will review your intake forms and prescribe HBOT if appropriate. If you have a prescription from a provider, we will coordinate with them. For serious health conditions, we may recommend getting clearance from your physician.
Some MD Hyperbaric centers accept insurance for certain on-label conditions — the FDA-recognized indications for which HBOT is an established standard of care. Whether insurance applies depends on your diagnosis, your plan, and the center you visit, so please contact your local center to confirm. Where insurance does not apply, HBOT is a self-pay treatment: most FSA/HSA plans allow reimbursement, and we can provide a superbill and receipt to help you submit a claim.
It depends on how you pay. For insurance-covered treatment at participating centers, your cost depends on your plan's deductible, copay, and coinsurance — the center verifies your benefits and explains expected costs before treatment begins. For self-pay treatment, we offer a variety of pricing options designed to suit different medical and financial needs, including pay-as-you-go and package options at reduced rates when purchased upfront. Please contact us to discuss pricing and options. We accept cash, credit, or check.