Intermittent hypoxic training
Intermittent hypoxic training (IHT), also known as intermittent hypoxic therapy, is a technique aimed at improving human performance by way of adaptation to reduced oxygen.
An IHT session consists of an interval of several minutes breathing
hypoxic (low oxygen) air, alternated with intervals breathing ambient (normoxic) or hyperoxic air. The procedure may be repeated several times in variable-length sessions per day, depending on a physician's prescription or a manufacturer's protocol.[1]
Standard practice is for the patient to remain stationary while breathing hypoxic air via a pulse oximeter
.
Effects
A number of effects are reported.[2][3][clarification needed] It is important to differentiate between physiological adaptations to mild hypoxia and re-oxygenation episodes (i.e., the IHT protocol) and frequent nocturnal suffocation awakenings produced by sleep apnea, which might result in various pathologies.[4][clarification needed]
Applications
IHT has been used to try to improve performance in sports.[5] and has been used in a number of health conditions.[6][clarification needed]