04 April 2013 Can oxygen starvation actually be good for you?

 

 

Around 30% or more of all human deaths in the world result from heart attacks or strokes caused by cardiovascular diseases (CVD).  In New Zealand this figure is closer to 40%, with one New Zealander dying every 90 minutes from coronary heart disease (Hay, 2004).  For decades cardiologists have promoted preventative measures such as a healthy diet and regular exercise.  But this can be difficult for those who struggle to engage in regular physical activity, such as people with spinal injuries, or those restricted to bed rest.\

 

Recent studies at Lincoln University suggest that an altitude training technique called intermittent hypoxic exposure (IHE) without exercise could help reduce risk factors for heart disease in those who are unable to exercise.  With funding from the New Zealand Heart Foundation, Associate Professor  Mike Hamlin and PhD student Catherine Lizamore ran studies to determine whether being exposed to simulated altitude (low oxygen levels) can mimic the health benefits that accompany exercise and reduce cardiovascular risk factors.

 

Associate Professor Hamlin says, “While intermittent hypoxic exposure is widely used by athletes as a means to improve their performances during competitive events, some research on the potential health benefits of IHE has been conducted in the former Soviet Union and the European Union, especially regarding the cardio-protective potential of IHE adaptation. Collectively, those international studies and the series of Lincoln University research projects on the health responses to this altitude simulating protocol, may provide evidence for a pharmaceutical-free means of reducing cardiovascular risk factors in the inactive. And reducing the risk of CVD and improving recovery time for injured or bed-ridden patients would be a win for the health system and for us all.”

 

For more information, read the full article on page 56 of the University’s research profile publication Transform.