NC doctor believes hyperbaric chamber could help COVID-19 patients with ‘brain fog’ – WSOC TV

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Over the last several months, we have heard so much about the physical symptoms of COVID-19 but many people who have survived the virus are still fighting mental ones.

Researchers said the effects are similar to a traumatic brain injury.

Now, a longtime treatment used for burn victims and survivors of traumatic brain injuries may provide help for those trying to recover from some of the cognitive fallout caused by COVID-19.

A doctor in Asheville told our news partner WLOS he believes hyperbaric oxygen chamber technology could help those patients. The amount of oxygen inside is much higher than normal, which leads to quicker healing.

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Dr. Michael Trayford said he uses it to treat women with menopause who go through cognitive decline. He believes he can help COVID patients too.

“There’s this kind of ‘COVID brain’ going on after the fact now,” Trayford said. “People just can’t get back to their normal selves, they’re in a constant fog. The cognitive impairment is one of our central areas of focus, and we are starting to get calls now on this.”

Trayford said this could improve patients' breathing, sleeping and moving.

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