HISTORY

Intermittent hypoxic training, also known as intermittent hypoxic therapy, is a technique aimed at improving human performance by way of adaptation to reduced oxygen.

It is known that oxygen gives life and life energy and takes them away.

For centuries, the scientific community has been aware of the cellular importance of oxygen, which converts food into energy and is transported to the tissues by red blood cells.

The latest scientific discoveries describing oxygen regulation in the body help to reveal the mechanisms of diseases. Intermittent hypoxia training (IHT) provides an opportunity to find new approaches for treatment of different diseases.

Brief History Of Hypoxic (Altitude) Training

1774

Joseph Priestly discovered oxygen

1800s

Balloonists discovered the physical limits of going above 13,000ft

1900s

George Finch pioneered many Everest expedition altitude records

Adaptation to high altitude was first acknowledged by balloonists and alpinists in the early 1800’s who first discovered the physical limits of going above 13,000 ft. The so-called “death zone,” the altitude above which humans were not supposed to survive, was thought to be about 15,000 ft. No one could explain why high elevations were toxic. As balloonists, or “aeronauts”, got more daring and were able to rise above 22,000 ft, their constant attempts to break new altitude records often led to fatal consequences. It wasn’t until new test equipment and small animals were brought along for the aeronauts to examine in flight that the key to survival at high altitudes was discovered. It was oxygen.

Oxygen was not discovered until 1774 as the “active” gas component of air. Those balloonists found that as they flew higher, the oxygen content in the air dropped, to a level that could kill a mouse and even a man.

Later, it was observed that people who lived at 12,000 ft. were able to endure much higher altitudes and did not suffer from altitude sickness compared with people from sea level. This adaptation was noticed by Sir Edmund Hillary who used native Sherpa guides to help him reach the summit of Mt Everest. Hillary marveled at the exceptional endurance and stamina of these people.

A high altitude simulator for human testing was built at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1877. This machine was a giant, double-cylinder vacuum chamber large enough for a man in fit in. Scientists were able to create a vacuum equal to 20,000 ft of altitude. A man inside the chamber was then able to survive by bringing along a rubber bag containing pure oxygen that he could breathe from.

Altitude training has a long and fascinating history that spans centuries. From the indigenous people of the Andes who have adapted to living and working at high altitudes over generations, to the early balloonists and alpinists who discovered the physical limits of high altitude, humans have been fascinated with the effects of altitude on the body for centuries.

One of the earliest known examples of altitude training for athletic performance was in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where many athletes experienced difficulty adapting to the high altitude conditions of the city. Since then, altitude training has become more popular, especially among endurance athletes such as distance runners and cyclists.

However, the history of altitude training goes back much further than the 20th century. In the early 1800s, balloonists and alpinists first discovered the physical limits of going above 13,000 feet, and the altitude above which humans were not supposed to survive, known as the "death zone," was thought to be around 15,000 feet. However, no one could explain why high elevations were toxic.

It wasn't until the discovery of oxygen in 1774 as the "active" gas component of air that scientists began to understand the key to survival at high altitudes. Balloonists found that as they flew higher, the oxygen content in the air dropped to a level that could kill a mouse and even a man.

Since then, numerous studies have been conducted on high altitude training, and various methods have been developed to enhance human adaptation to high altitudes. In this context, one of the most popular methods of altitude training is high hypoxic (altitude) training. In this training, individuals are exposed to reduced oxygen levels, simulating the effects of high altitude. This type of training has been shown to improve athletic performance and overall fitness, making it a popular training technique among athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike.

In 1877, a significant development in the history of altitude training occurred when a high altitude simulator for human testing was built at the Sorbonne in Paris. This machine was a giant, double-cylinder vacuum chamber large enough for a man to fit in. With this simulator, scientists were able to create a vacuum equal to 20,000 feet of altitude.

The human subject inside the chamber was able to survive by bringing along a rubber bag containing pure oxygen that he could breathe from. This experiment showed that providing supplemental oxygen could enable humans to survive at high altitudes, thereby laying the foundation for modern altitude training techniques.

Since then, altitude training has evolved significantly, with various methods developed to enhance human adaptation to high altitudes. Today, high hypoxic (altitude) training is one of the most popular methods of altitude training, where individuals are exposed to reduced oxygen levels, simulating the effects of high altitude. This type of training has been shown to improve athletic performance and overall fitness, making it a popular training technique among athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike.

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What Is a Hypoxic Chamber?

A hypoxic chamber, also known as a hypobaric chamber or altitude chamber, is an enclosed space that simulates high altitude conditions. The purpose of a hypoxic chamber is to expose individuals to reduced levels of oxygen in order to simulate the effects of high altitude on the body.

In a hypoxic chamber, the atmospheric pressure is reduced to simulate high altitude, while the level of oxygen in the air is also reduced to simulate the lower oxygen levels that are found at high altitudes. This reduction in oxygen levels can cause a range of physiological responses in the body, such as increased heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure, as well as changes in the way the body metabolizes energy.

Hypoxic chambers are often used for research purposes to study the effects of high altitude on the body, as well as for training athletes and military personnel who may need to perform in high altitude environments. The use of hypoxic chambers can help individuals acclimatize to high altitude conditions and improve their performance in activities such as mountain climbing, endurance sports, and aviation.

A hypoxic chamber is an area of varying size that simulates high-altitude conditions. A Hypoxic room system senses the current ambient conditions of the area and distorts the oxygen profile, limiting the supply of oxygen to the chamber in order to simulate a high-altitude environment.

Simulated hypoxic conditions are designed to intensify the process of adaptation to altitude conditions. Hypoxic chambers are mainly used to enhance the performance of athletes, as well as prepare an individual’s body for functioning at higher altitudes.

While hypoxic chambers are primarily used for research, training, and altitude acclimatization, some individuals believe that exposure to reduced levels of oxygen in a hypoxic chamber may offer certain wellness benefits. However, it's important to note that the scientific evidence for these claims is limited, and more research is needed to determine the potential health benefits and risks associated with hypoxic chamber use for wellness purposes.

That being said, here are a few statistics related to the use of hypoxic chambers for wellness:

Some individuals use hypoxic chambers for "altitude training," in which they train in a hypoxic chamber in order to increase their body's ability to adapt to high altitude environments. This type of training has been shown to improve athletic performance in endurance sports, such as distance running and cycling.
Some studies suggest that exposure to hypoxia (low oxygen levels) may have potential health benefits, such as improving cognitive function, reducing inflammation, and promoting cellular repair. However, these studies are still in the early stages and more research is needed to confirm these findings.
Some individuals claim that exposure to hypoxia may have anti-aging benefits, such as reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improving skin elasticity. However, there is limited scientific evidence to support these claims.
Hypoxic chambers are also sometimes used as part of alternative or complementary medicine practices, such as "oxygen therapy" or "altitude therapy." However, the scientific evidence for these practices is limited, and they are not currently recognized as effective treatments by mainstream medical organizations.