Oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA is increased in Alzheimer's disease and may play a role in both normal aging and in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and dementia. A recent study examined this issue in the brain tissue of Alzheimer sufferers who were diseased and found definite oxidative damage to their DNA, with a three-fold correlation of oxidative damage compared to controls.

Yet oxygen is the most important factor in the health and well being of our cells and entire body. Daily we consume approximately 3 pounds of food, three pounds of fluid - and about six pounds of oxygen. Only two pounds of the oxygen we consume ends up in the blood to be transported to cells for their function and health. Many serious health problems stem from and are complicated by hypoxia , which is a low level of oxygen. Why? Because we don't get enough, it's polluted, when we do get it, it can't get to where it needs to go because our blood is full of factors that cause it to be undeliverable or go awry - like bad fats or heavy metals.

The answer is to both "clean up" our lifestyle and diets to greatly reduce or eliminate the factors that keep us from providing our cells with the oxygen they need to heal, thrive and survive. Then, oxygen under increased pressure can correct an oxygen deficiency. To provide this increased pressure you have to go completely inside of a hyperbaric chamber. These chambers are completely comfortable and safe. The increased pressure allows oxygen to get into your cells better. Medical education has taught physicians to think that oxygen causes oxidative damage; on the contrary, a lack of oxygen causes oxidative damage. Contrary to this misinformation, oxygen protects tissues from free radical damage. Hypoxia (lack of oxygen) creates oxygen free radicals. Correcting hypoxia limits free radical formation.

At Dr. Steenblock's Clinic we assess the whole individual, seeking what conditions and pollutants have caused and are continuing to cause hypoxia and thus damage to brain cells. Patients are counseled in nutrition. In addition to hyperbaric oxygen, as appropriate we offer pulsed electromagnetic therapy, physical therapy and intravenous therapies.