Rosalba C. wrote
http://www.wellbeing.com.au/natural_health_articles?cid=7157&pid=17353
Oxygen deficiency is associated with many diseases. It has been postulated to play a role in many metabolic diseases, including cancer, fatigue, epilepsy and poor neurological functioning. For this reason it might seem difficult to accept that hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, might actually be a more powerful healing factor than therapies that promote giving oxygen.
IHT increases the efficiency with which the body takes up, transports and utilises oxygen. The heart and lungs are stimulated to increase their functions and even over the long term to increase in size. Blood vessels dilate and new capillaries are formed in the heart, brain and skeletal muscles. In the blood, levels of erythropoietin (EPO), haemoglobin and myoglobin increase. All these factors make the blood capable of carrying more oxygen. On a cellular level there is a growth of the cellular structures needed for the metabolism of oxygen.
If you undergo IHT, the net effect is a decrease in the need for oxygen by about 20 per cent and an increase in the ability to use oxygen, as measured by VO2 max. Like a finely tuned motor vehicle, if you are adapted to altitude with IHT you can run on less fuel with less wear and tear to your ‘motor’. And when you need to run in high gear you can do so and use all the fuel or oxygen you need to achieve maximum performance.