A longevity & wellness service from Optimal
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Breathing oxygen at increased pressure, delivered as a structured,
physician-supervised program. A longevity and wellness offering from
Optimal - grounded in a growing body of research, which we've linked
in full below.
Physician-administered & supervised
Modelled on the Sagol Center protocol
Every program begins with a medical screening
HSA-eligible · not OHIP-covered
What the research explores
Potential longevity-related benefits
A growing body of peer-reviewed research explores how HBOT interacts
with the biology of aging. Here's what studies have observed across four
areas - described plainly, with every source linked further down so you
can read it yourself.
Cellular aging markers
In trials, HBOT has been associated with longer telomeres and fewer
senescent immune cells in the blood of aging adults, alongside
signals of active DNA repair.
Early biomarker findings - not yet proven to change how we age.
Tissue & regeneration
Studies point to increased blood-vessel growth, shifts in skin
collagen density, and better tissue oxygenation and wound-healing
dynamics.
Reparative-biology signals, still being studied in healthy people.
Brain & neuroplasticity
In injury and impairment groups, HBOT has been linked to changes in
cerebral blood flow and gains on some attention and
executive-function measures.
Studied mainly after injury - not yet in healthy aging.
Mitochondria & oxidative signalling
Oxygen cycling appears to nudge mitochondrial signalling and the
body's own antioxidant defenses through a hormesis - a beneficial
small-stress adaptation - effect.
A plausible mechanism; the longevity link isn't established.
The honest bottom line: these are early findings at the level of
biology. A longer lifespan, disease prevention in healthy people, and
reversal of aging haven't been proven as clinical outcomes - larger
trials are ongoing. We think the science is genuinely promising, and
we'd rather you see exactly where it stands.
The honest version
Where this fits, plainly
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a well-established treatment for a
specific set of medical conditions. Its use for longevity, healthy
aging, and wellness is newer and still being researched - so we offer
it in that spirit: promising and evidence-informed, and not a Health
Canada–approved treatment for aging or disease.
Because it's a wellness service rather than a covered medical
treatment, it isn't billed to OHIP; most members pay privately, and
some employer HSA plans may apply. Everything on this page reflects
what the research actually shows - linked in full, so you can judge it
for yourself.
How it works
Oxygen, under pressure
Inside a pressurized chamber, you breathe oxygen at a concentration and
pressure far above normal air. Researchers describe the underlying idea
as the "hyperoxic-hypoxic paradox" - repeated, controlled swings in
oxygen that the body responds to as a signal.
01
Pressurized chamber
You rest in a clear chamber while pressure is gently raised - similar
to the sensation of a plane's descent. Sessions are calm and monitored
throughout.
02
Elevated oxygen
Higher pressure lets far more oxygen dissolve into the blood and
plasma than breathing ordinary air ever could, reaching tissues
throughout the body.
03
Repeated sessions
The protocol is a series of sessions over weeks. In studies, it's the
repeated cycling - not any single session - that is associated with
the biological changes described below.
The protocol we follow
The Sagol protocol
Our program is modelled on the structured protocol developed at the
Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research (Shamir Medical
Center, Israel) - the group behind much of the published research on
HBOT and aging-associated biomarkers.
Rather than continuous oxygen, the protocol uses
intermittent oxygen breathing
within each session - the pattern researchers associate with the
"hyperoxic-hypoxic paradox."
~90 min
per session, including gradual pressure changes
Series
a course of repeated sessions over several weeks
Cycled O₂
intermittent oxygen with brief air breaks within each session
MD-led
supervised by the administering physician throughout
The clinic behind it
Longevity care, with a
clinician's hand
Optimal is a members' clinic in Barrie built around preventative,
longevity-minded care. Your hyperbaric sessions are delivered at our
partner hyperbaric facility and administered under the supervision of
the physician who runs it - with Optimal coordinating your onboarding.
So you're never navigating this alone: one team plans it, a physician
oversees it, and your results are reviewed with you.
Book an info call
What to expect
What a session is like
HBOT is generally well tolerated. Every program begins with a medical
screening, and the physician reviews your history before any session is
booked.
Arrival & screening
Wear comfortable cotton clothing. You'll be checked for anything
that shouldn't go into the chamber and briefed on how to equalize
ear pressure.
During the session
You rest, read, or listen to music while pressure is raised slowly.
Most people feel only a fullness in the ears, like a flight or a
dive.
Common, mild effects
Temporary ear or sinus pressure and lightheadedness are the most
common. Less common effects, including temporary changes in near
vision, are discussed on your call.
Afterward
There's no downtime - you return to your day as normal. Your
provider tracks how you tolerate each session across the series.
Who it may suit
-
Adults exploring longevity and wellness options who understand the
service is investigational
-
People comfortable committing to a full series of sessions over
several weeks
-
Those who clear a physician screening for eligibility and
contraindications
Who should not - or should wait
Screened for on every intake. This is not a complete list.
-
Untreated pneumothorax (collapsed lung) - a firm contraindication
-
Certain lung conditions, recent ear or sinus surgery, or active
infection
-
Pregnancy, and some medications - reviewed individually with the
physician
-
Claustrophobia or difficulty equalizing ear pressure - discussed
before booking
For context
Where HBOT is an established
treatment
HBOT has recognized, evidence-based medical uses under clinical
guidelines such as the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS)
indications. These are distinct from the wellness use we offer - and,
unlike a longevity program, several are covered in the appropriate
medical setting.
Non-healing & diabetic wounds
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Certain serious infections
Compromised skin grafts & flaps
The evidence
Read it yourself
We'd rather you judge the science than take a claim on faith. Below is a
selection of the peer-reviewed literature, grouped by domain, with links
to each source. A useful starting point is the Hadanny & Efrati
review of the hyperoxic-hypoxic paradox, the mechanism that underlies
much of this research.
1 · Cellular aging biomarkers
Hachmo Y, Hadanny A, Abu Hamed R, et al. (2020). HBOT increases
telomere length and decreases immunosenescence in isolated blood
cells.
Aging (Albany NY), 12(22).
10.18632/aging.202188
Hachmo Y, Hadanny A, Dani A, et al. (2021). HBOT increases telomere
length and enhances DNA repair in blood cells of aging adults.
Aging (Albany NY), 13(16).
10.18632/aging.203409
Ferrucci L, Fabbri E. (2018). Inflammageing: chronic inflammation in
ageing.
Nat Rev Cardiol, 15(9).
10.1038/s41569-018-0064-2
2 · Tissue aging & regeneration
Fischer I, Barsheshet Y, Levi R, et al. (2021). HBOT induces
angiogenesis and regeneration in human skin: a prospective
controlled trial.
Aging (Albany NY),
13(18).
10.18632/aging.203532
Gill AL, Bell CNA. (2004). Hyperbaric oxygen: uses, mechanisms and
outcomes.
QJM, 97(7).
10.1093/qjmed/hch074
3 · Neurocognitive & brain aging
Efrati S, Fishlev G, Bechor Y, et al. (2013). HBOT can induce
neuroplasticity and improve cognitive function in chronic
neurocognitive deficits.
J Neurotrauma, 30(3).
10.1089/neu.2012.2561
Boussi-Gross R, Golan H, Fishlev G, et al. (2013). HBOT can improve
post-concussion syndrome years after mild TBI: RCT.
PLoS ONE, 8(11).
10.1371/journal.pone.0079995
Tal S, Hadanny A, Berkovitz N, et al. (2017). HBOT can induce
neuroplasticity and improve cognition after stroke.
Restor Neurol Neurosci, 35(4).
10.3233/RNN-170748
4 · Mitochondria & oxidative signalling
Hadanny A, Efrati S. (2020). The hyperoxic-hypoxic paradox.
Biomolecules, 10(6):958.
10.3390/biom10060958
Thom SR, Bhopale VM, Velazquez OC, Goldstein LJ. (2006). Stem cell
mobilization by hyperbaric oxygen.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol,
290(4).
10.1152/ajpheart.00888.2005
5 · Systematic reviews & clinical consensus
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). (2023).
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Indications, 15th Ed. Best Publishing Company.
uhms.org
Efrati S, et al. Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine &
Research, Shamir Medical Center.
shamir.org
As a library, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) provides access to
scientific literature. Inclusion of a study in an NLM database such as
PubMed
does not imply endorsement of, or agreement with, its contents by NLM or the National Institutes of Health. Linking to
a study here is not an endorsement of any specific outcome.
Frequently asked
questions
Is HBOT approved by Health Canada for longevity or
anti-aging?
No. HBOT is approved for a defined set of medical conditions, but its
use for aging, longevity, or general wellness is investigational and
is not approved by Health Canada as a treatment for aging or disease
prevention. We offer it as a private wellness service on that basis.
Is this covered by OHIP or my insurance?
Not for this indication. Because it's offered as a longevity and
wellness service - not an OHIP-eligible medical treatment - HBOT here
is paid privately. Some employer Health Spending Accounts (HSA) may
apply; we can discuss this on your info call.
Who administers the treatment, and where?
Sessions are delivered at our partner hyperbaric clinic and are
administered under the supervision of the physician (MD) who runs that
facility. Optimal coordinates your screening, program, and follow-up.
Is HBOT safe? What are the risks?
HBOT is generally well tolerated when properly screened and
supervised. The most common effects are temporary ear or sinus
pressure. Less common effects include temporary changes in near vision
and, rarely, more serious events. Every program starts with a medical
screening for eligibility and contraindications.
What protocol do you follow?
Our program is modelled on the Sagol Center protocol (Shamir Medical
Center, Israel), which uses intermittent oxygen breathing across a
series of sessions. Exact parameters are set by the administering
physician based on your screening.
Will this make me live longer or reverse aging?
We can't say that, and we won't. Research has observed changes in some
aging-associated biomarkers, but lifespan extension, disease
prevention in healthy people, and reversal of biological aging have
not been demonstrated as clinical outcomes. Anyone promising those
results is going beyond the evidence.
What happens on an info call?
A no-obligation conversation. We explain the service and its
investigational status, answer questions, take a brief history to flag
contraindications, and outline what a program would involve. There's
no pressure to proceed.
Curious whether HBOT
is right for
you?
Start with a conversation. No obligation, no pressure - just an honest
look at the evidence and whether a program makes sense for you.
Book an info call
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is offered as an investigational longevity &
wellness service - not a Health Canada-approved treatment for aging, and
not OHIP-covered. Treatment is delivered and administered by a physician
(MD) at our partner hyperbaric clinic.
This page is for information only and is not medical advice.
