What does IHHT mean?
IHHT stands for Intermittent Hypoxic-Hyperoxic Training. ‘Hypoxic’ means the inhaled air contains less oxygen than ordinary outdoor air; ‘hyperoxic’ means it contains more. These phases alternate. It is therefore not continuous extra oxygen or physical exercise.
What happens during a session?
The goal, method and your suitability are discussed beforehand. If IHHT is considered appropriate, the mask and monitoring are fitted. Settings are adjusted to the individual.
- You take a seat and breathe through the mask.
- The device changes the composition of the air according to the chosen programme.
- Your supervisor monitors your response, heart rate and oxygen saturation.
- Afterwards, you discuss how the session went and what you experienced.
What is considered beforehand?
Your medical history, medication, current symptoms and response to exertion matter. This applies, for example, to heart or lung conditions. Resting during IHHT does not mean the stimulus suits everyone. Report changes in your health before every session.
What do the studies show?
A controlled pilot from 2024 involving 145 people with long COVID found greater improvements in walking distance and fatigue with IHHT alongside rehabilitation than with rehabilitation alone. The groups were not randomly assigned. A smaller randomised study in older adults also found positive outcomes within a combined programme.
These findings warrant further research. They do not prove that IHHT resolves general fatigue or insomnia. The populations, supervision and programmes studied differ; together, we discuss what the available knowledge means for your situation.
A clear reason to start
Your personal proposal connects IHHT to a specific goal. You know why it is being considered, what alternatives exist and when we will evaluate your experience. We discuss content, costs and possible unwanted reactions beforehand. No fixed result or required number of sessions is promised.
Sources and background
- IHHT alongside rehabilitation for long COVID — clinical pilot (2024) (opens in a new tab)
- IHHT in older patients — randomised study (2017) (opens in a new tab)
Research applies to the group and application studied. These sources do not predict an individual treatment outcome.




