A Chelsea Patricia Ake-Salvacion died about a month ago due to asphyxia caused by low oxygen levels in her body. The condition leading to her death occured while she was inside a cryo machine at the Rejuvenice spa. She was an employee of the business, their night shift supervisor.
Salvacion died on October 20 after getting a cryo treatment for herself the night before.
Her death drew attention to the practice.
Cryotherapy is a practice that subjects its users to sub zero temperatures. The therapy claims that it eases pain, blood flow and other inflammatory ailments. It also claims to help weight loss, improves skin and wards off aging and depression.
However, the practice is unregulated and have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Its effects are being likened to the benefits of the age-old sauna or steam bath.
Even the scientific and medical community does not have their signatures on it. The only time nitrogen is used in medical procedures is for warts removal.
Nevada's chief medical officer, Dr.Tracey Green said that the guidelines include age limits and health restrictions. Which include prohibiting children below 18 years old and under five feet tall to undergo the procedure. Likewise, people with health conditions are advised not to undergo the treatment. These include but are not limited to heart conditions, pregnancy, seizures, infections, blood pressure and claustrophobia.
To add to the precaution, users are asked to have their blood pressures taken before and after the session. Each user can only have one session per day and no more than 3 minutes.
Green claims that the therapy is available to individuals who do not have pre-existing medical conditions. Coming up with the guidelines was not easy plus the fact that training for the machines vary.
These regulations will set safety standards for the businesses as apparently children as young as 14 years old have been offered the service.
"... It's all about public safety," Green said as reported by Fox Baltimore.
