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Review
. 2016 Sep;241(15):1708-23.
doi: 10.1177/1535370216657614. Epub 2016 Jul 12.

Intermittent hypoxia training as non-pharmacologic therapy for cardiovascular diseases: Practical analysis on methods and equipment

Tatiana V Serebrovskaya  1 , Lei Xi  2
Affiliations
Review

Intermittent hypoxia training as non-pharmacologic therapy for cardiovascular diseases: Practical analysis on methods and equipment

Tatiana V Serebrovskaya et al. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2016 Sep.

Abstract

The global industrialization has brought profound lifestyle changes and environmental pollutions leading to higher risks of cardiovascular diseases. Such tremendous challenges outweigh the benefits of major advances in pharmacotherapies (such as statins, antihypertensive, antithrombotic drugs) and exacerbate the public healthcare burdens. One of the promising complementary non-pharmacologic therapies is the so-called intermittent hypoxia training (IHT) via activation of the human body's own natural defense through adaptation to intermittent hypoxia. This review article primarily focuses on the practical questions concerning the utilization of IHT as a non-pharmacologic therapy against cardiovascular diseases in humans. Evidence accumulated in the past five decades of research in healthy men and patients has suggested that short-term daily sessions consisting 3-4 bouts of 5-7 min exposures to 12-10% O2 alternating with normoxic durations for 2-3 weeks can result in remarkable beneficial effects in treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, and heart failure. Special attentions are paid to the therapeutic effects of different IHT models, along with introduction of a variety of specialized facilities and equipment available for IHT, including hypobaric chambers, hypoxia gas mixture deliver equipment (rooms, tents, face masks), and portable rebreathing devices. Further clinical trials and thorough evaluations of the risks versus benefits of IHT are much needed to develop a series of standardized and practical guidelines for IHT. Taken together, we can envisage a bright future for IHT to play a more significant role in the preventive and complementary medicine against cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: Intermittent hypoxia; cardioprotection; complementary therapy; coronary heart disease; heart failure; hypertension.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Simulated altitude chambers that were extensively used for training pilots, paratroopers, athletes, and spacemen in the former Soviet Union. (a) Training barochamber in the Military Medical Academy, Leningrad, USSR (1930–1935). The picture is adopted from: Physiology and Hygiene of Altitude Flight (Edited by Krotkov FG), Narkomzdrav USSR, Moscow-Leningrad, 1938. (b) Experiment with hypoxic training. The image is adopted from Krotkov FG. Aviation Hygiene. In: Handbook in Military Hygiene. Narkomzdrav USSR, Moscow-Leningrad, 1939
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) The barochamber Ural-1 USSR (Orenburg Medical University, 1970–1990). The picture is adopted from Meerson FZ, Tverdohlib VP, Boev VM, Frolov BA. Adaptation to Periodic Hypoxia in Therapy and Prophylaxis. Moscow-Orenburg, Nauka, 1989. (b) The training thermo-barochamber in Terskol, International Medico-Biological Scientific Centre, Russia-Ukraine (1970 to present). This large climatic test bench can reconstruct the atmospheric conditions equivalent to 9000 m altitude. The picture is adopted from http://www.terskol.com. (A color version of this figure is available in the online journal.)
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) Hypoxico® portable altitude tent. The tent fits on the bed box spring or on the floor with a mattress inside. The image is adopted from: http://www.hypoxico.com/products/portable-altitude-tent/. (b) Hypoxico® at-home cubicle system. It offers the user a more comfortable and spacious atmosphere for in a more permanent setting. The picture is adopted from: http://www.hypoxico.com/products/at-home-cubicle/. (c) A portable device “Borei-5” (NORT Company, Ukraine). The arrows indicate: (1) control unit, (2) isolation helmet, (3) gas-separating column, and (4) compressor. The image is adopted from Orotherapy. Lectures of Academy of Hypoxia Problems. Edited by Berezovsky VA, Levashov MI, Kiev, Logos, 1998. (A color version of this figure is available in the online journal.)
Figure 4
Figure 4
The commercial image representing: (a) and (b): AltiTrainer200® (Switzerland). The picture is adopted from: http://www.smtec.net/en/products/altitrainer. (c) CellAir One® (Germany), a device for hypoxic–hyperoxic training. The picture is adopted from: http://cellgym.de/products/ihht-systems/?lang=en. (A color version of this figure is available in the online journal.)
Figure 5
Figure 5
A laboratory image representing the Rebreather Hypoxytron® (Ukraine) device, which is capable of buffer reservoir volume regulation for individual hypoxia dosage (Photo taken by T.V. Serebrovskaya). (A color version of this figure is available in the online journal.)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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