REOXY®

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INTERMITTENT HYPOXIC TREATMENT – WHAT IS IT?

Intermittent/Interval Hypoxic Training or Intermittent/Interval Hypoxic Treatment (IHT) – a commonly employed designation of a treatment method using intermittent hypoxic exposure as the main therapeutic factor.

An IHT session consists of an interval of several minutes (3–10 min each) breathing hypoxic (low oxygen) air, alternated with similar intervals breathing ambient (normoxic) or hyperoxic air (Hypoxia – Hyperoxia mode – IHHT).

The procedure may be repeated several times in variable-length sessions per day, depending on a physician’s prescription or a manufacturer’s protocol (Navarrete-Opaz et al.,2014). Standard practice is for the patient to remain stationary while breathing hypoxic air via a hand-held mask. The therapy is delivered using a hypoxicator during the day time, allowing the dosage to be monitored. 

•  The Hypoxia Therapy method is very natural, as it utilizes unique genetically installed human body phenomena: an organism rapidly compensates disruptions at all levels caused by decreases in oxygen intake, adapting to its new environment. So-called ‘super-recovery’ follows total recovery of a disrupted function so that body resistance to a specific factor improves.

• Prenatal body evolution takes place in a low PO2 environment similar to an altitude of 5,000-6,000m above sea level (asl). Furthermore, PO2 values in the womb and fetal tissues change cyclically.

• Ability of the fetus to super-recover in response to decreased PO2 is an aspect of specific fetus «training» and forms its ability to resist external factors following parturition.

• Intermittent Hypoxia Therapy is a convenient way to tune the oxygen transport system and increase the power of the oxidative process. It relates to the fact that the oxygen the transport system, including breathing, cardiovascular systems, blood, multilayered regulators and cell breath systems dominate in terms of responsibility for adaptive changes.

• These effects are realized also during continuous intensive physical exercises of aerobic nature of longer than 30 minutes. Hypoxic training is easy to perform, which along with the absence of limitations is another benefit for patients, especially those overweight or with metabolic syndrome.

• Highland communities typically enjoy a 15–20 years longer lifespan. Median lifetime of Hunz valley inhabitants, in the Karakorum mountains, at 2,500m asl, is 120 years.

The intermittent exposure to hypoxia during IHT stimulates epigenetic changes and increased expression of genes that allow adaptation to altitude. 

The end result of hypoxia adaptation includes 

improved oxygen

better circulation

improved mitochondrial function

increased tolerance to various stressors and even toxic chemicals

increased antioxidant production 

reduced inflammation 

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These adaptive changes can enhance physical and mental capacity, so that the body is better able to cope with a range of stressors and repair and heal cells tissues and organs. 

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IHT increases endothelial production of nitric oxide (NO) while also preventing NO overproduction in the brain and other tissues. The end result is neuroprotection of various pathologies, reduced blood pressure, and a reduction of oxidative stress.

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Increased tolerance to physical load:

• Increased VO2 max – maximum rate of oxygen usage.
• Enhanced power output and speed.
• Increased exercise-until-exhaustion (ETE) time.

Increased tolerance to hypoxia:

• Reduced possibility of negative effects of the acute hypoxia/ischemia.
• Increased myocardium and brain resistance to acute ischemia (preconditioning effect).

Improved quality of life:

• Increased activities of daily living.
• Reduced Depression symptoms.
• Improved the quality of sleep.
• Decreased blood pressure and heart rate.
• Cognitive performance improvement.

• Rehabilitation (cardiovascular/pulmonary/spinal cord inquires)
• Dementia/ Alzheimer’s disease
• Metabolic Disorders (Diabetes Mellitus, Prediabetes, Obesity)
• Sport Medicine
• Preventive & Anti-aging Medicine
• Sport & Fitness
• Wellbeing
• Burnout and exhaustion
• Sleep disturbances