What Researchers Did
Researchers studied how a single hyperbaric oxygen therapy session combined with heart medications affected heart function in 35 patients with angina (chest pain from reduced blood flow to the heart).
What They Found
This was a study of 35 patients with ischemic heart disease and exertional angina (NYHA class II-III) who received a single hyperbaric oxygen session (1.5 ATA, 40 minutes) combined with one of three antianginal drugs: nifedipine (20 mg), propranolol (40 mg), or nitroglycerin (6.5 mg), all given orally. Hyperbaric oxygen reduced the indirect hemodynamic effect of nifedipine. It made propranolol's heart-rate-lowering and contractility-lowering effects stronger. Hyperbaric oxygen had no effect on the hemodynamic action of the nitroglycerin preparation.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This was a small study of 35 patients examining only a single combined-treatment session, so it does not show what happens with repeated hyperbaric oxygen exposure or long-term drug interactions.