Possibilities and Prospects of Hypoxytherapy Application in Cardiology

Abstract

Despite the achievements of modern cardiology, the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in most countries of the world remains high, which motivates the wider use of additional (alternative) preventive and therapeutic approaches, one of which is hypoxytherapy. Over several decades of using this method, a large amount of data has been accumulated that allows us to state the beneficial effect of various hypoxytherapy regimens on the clinical course of cardiovascular diseases and can potentially improve prognosis of them. The use of hypoxytherapy is associated with an improvement in blood pressure circadian rhythm, flow-dependent vasodilation, an insulin resistance decrease, a vascular wall stiffness redaction, an improvement in blood rheology, endothelial function and nitric oxide system, a decrease of proinflammatory and prothrombotic cytokines levels. A number of modern experts consider hypoxytherapy as an affordable and perspective method of prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, effectively supporting traditional non-drug and drug-based approaches. Contemporary data indicate serious future perspectives for an expanded study of the hypoxytherapy possibilities in cardiac patients, including through the State research programmes. This review is devoted to the discussion of the physiological effects of hypoxytherapy, the possibilities of its application in cardiological practice, including with the analysis of own data, as well as precautions during its implementation.