IH Health Benefits

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) has many therapeutic benefits; however, the benefits are dose dependent, and adverse side effects are observed from chronic hypoxia.

Request a Consultation

The Effects of Intermittent Hypoxia (Simulated Altitude) on Health

Reference: Angela Navarrete-Opazo and Gordon S. Mitchell, (2014) Therapeutic potential of intermittent hypoxia: a matter of dose, Am J Physio Regul Integr Comp Physiol, 307: R1181-R1197, doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00208.2014.

Key Points

  • Intermittent hypoxia (IH) has many therapeutic benefits; however, the benefits are dose dependent, and adverse side effects are observed from chronic hypoxia
  • The therapeutic range of IH is between 9-16% inspired O2, which roughly corresponds to blood oxygen saturations of 82-95% (altitudes of ~1500-5000 m)
  • 3-15 episodes per day of IH in the above range elicits therapeutic benefits without harmful side effects
Download Application

Summary

For practical application the key message from this paper is that IH is therapeutic when blood oxygen saturation is between 82-95% (as can be achieved with Oxygen Advantage simulated altitude training techniques) and 3-15 cycles are performed per day. The therapeutic benefits they found were:

  • Improved athletic performance
  • Increased nitric oxide and reduced sympathetic nervous system activity, both of which lower blood pressure
  • Increased innate immune system response
  • Increased overall anti-inflammatory response
  • Decreased blood sugar and increased insulin sensitivity
  • Decreased symptoms of depression
  • Increased memory
  • Increased bone density

Application

In the absence of any serious health conditions, anyone can learn to achieve IH in the safe therapeutic range with the application of Breathexchange training using Oxygen Advantage simulated altitude training techniques.

Download Application

Client Reviews

What clients say about our training

During these turbulent times employers are seeking strategies to help their employees manage stress, stay healthy and maintain peak performance. Having Dr. Sly train your people on his BreatheXchange program will yield an amazing ROI.

Dr. Denis Cauvier

Best-Selling Author of 15 books

Dr. Sly’s ability to teach functional breathing through his Breathexchange program has been invaluable for our coaches and athletes, especially learning to engage the diaphragm and abdominal core to generate power and protect the spine during heavy lifting.

Paul Vaillancourt

Owner Ultimate Fitness Gyms, Strength and Conditioning Coach,
4 time Ontario’s Strongest Man

The addition of Dr. Sly’s Breathexchange simulated altitude, repeat sprint ability and functional breathing to our programs with elite and professional athletes has had a tremendous impact. We are able to target their VO2 Max without added strain on their muscular and central nervous systems.

Luke Homer, B.Sc.

Strength and Conditioning Coach UFGyms, Montreal Canadiens
Proskaters Inc. Canadian National Powerlifting Champion and Record Holder

Understanding and adapting the breathing techniques taught by Dr. Sly's BreatheXchange program has completely empowered me to take back control and management of my own health, mentally and physically. Reflecting on my 33 years of experience in a national policing organization, breath education has the opportunity to empower the workforce to better manage the stress response, and performance acuity that inherently exists in the roles they play for Canada.

Brenda Deugo-Mills

Director (Retired), Information and Communication Technology Security Program (CISO),
Royal Canadian Mounted Police