In addition to improving athletic performance, Intermittent Hypoxia Therapy (IHT) has been found to have positive effects on conditions such as coronary heart disease, cardiological disease, bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, metabolic disorders (obesity, type II diabetes) and aids in recovery after spinal cord injury.
1. IHT is not well known in the west, how long has it been used in Russia? How many people have undergone IHT so far?
There are references to crude attempts at treatments that seem similar to intermittent hypo-oxidating back to the middle ages. However, modern scientific study of intermittent hypoxia therapy (also known as periodic hypoxia, interval hypoxia, hypoxic preconditioning etc.) really took off in the 1930s in the Soviet Union, driven mainly by military requirements.
In the past three decades intermittent hypoxia, and its possible applications, have again been the subject of a considerable amount of research. The number of publications indexed in PUBMED under the keywords ‘intermittent hypoxia’ increased from 15 in 1983 to 385 by 2013. As a result the use of Intermittent Hypoxia Therapy (IHT) has been extended beyond its already established roles in altitude pre-acclimatisation and sports performance enhancement to treatments for a variety of clinical disorders.
Because it offers a drug-free alternative with very few contraindications,IHT has been widely prescribed in Russia and the formerSoviet Union countries for two decades, with patient numbers now around 2 million. Of those 75 to 95 per cent have reported good or satisfactory results.In recent years IHT has been gaining recognition among healthcare professionals and has grown in popularity in Europe and the USA.
2. How is your device different from those that were used in Russia for so many years?
The ReOxy device varies greatly from its Soviet predecessors and trying to compare them is like comparing an old model T Ford to the latest Tesla; they are both cars but they use very different technology.
The ReOxy is the first device of its kind that allows precise calculation and dosing of hypoxic load tailored individually for each patient. ReOxy uses SelfRegulated Treatment (SRT) technology that relies upon the principle of biological feedback, where the patient’s bodily reactions define and control the therapeutic parameters throughout the treatment session.
It is important to correctly calculate the individual dose to be used for every hypoxia treatment and not to over or underdose. Overdosing hypoxia can result in negative effects similar to those caused by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Underdosing hypoxia, on the other hand, can reduce the procedure’s efficacy. In ReOxy’s case, the hypoxic load dose is calculated pretty much the same way as pharmacological substances. It can subsequently be repeated and / or adjusted higher or lower as required. That is why ReOxy is the first device certified for medical application of IHHT in accordance with MDD 93/42/ EEC medical EU directive.
3. What makes you think MEDICAL FAIR ASIA (MFA) 2016 is the best place for you to showcase the ReOxy?
When we were researching for a platform to launch the ReOxy device in Asia, MEDICAL FAIR ASIA 2016 stood out as the premier event of its kind with the greatest reach in the region. It seemed the obvious choice that will allow us to introduce our innovative breathing therapy device ReOxy into the Asian market and share the recent developments in the field of IHT.
4. What kind of response are you expecting from MFA 2016, both qualitatively as well as quantitatively?
Considering ReOxy’s growing popularity in Europe, we are expecting widespread interest and acknowledgment from the Asian professional audience. ReOxy and IHT have multiple applications in many medical fields including: cardiology and neurology (for treatment, rehabilitation and prevention), metabolic diseases, pulmonology, and gerontology; so we are expecting great interest from potential distributors.
