Breathing New Life Into Health

How Intermittent Hypoxic Hyperoxic Therapy Is Supporting Recovery and Resilience in Liverpool

Intermittent Hypoxic Hyperoxic Therapy (IHHT) is a non-invasive, oxygen-based therapy designed to support the body’s natural ability to adapt, repair and function more efficiently. For one Liverpool patient, its introduction marked a meaningful turning point in a long and complex health journey.

Joe is 80 years old. Since 2014, he has been under the care of Fazakerley Hospital for retinal leakage believed to be linked to diabetes. For more than a decade, he received steroid injections directly into his eye every six weeks, with his second eye later requiring the same treatment. These injections continued for over 11 years, with regular consultant reviews to monitor disease progression.

In September 2025, Joe began a course of Intermittent Hypoxic Hyperoxic Therapy at our clinic. In total, he has completed 24 supervised 40-minute IHHT sessions. Notably, it was after approximately 10 sessions that Joe began to notice early signs of improvement.

At his routine hospital appointment shortly before Christmas, his consultant observed a clear improvement in his eye condition and extended his injection interval from six weeks to fifteen. A follow-up examination in January confirmed further progress, and Joe has since been advised that if no additional leakage is present at his next review, his injections may be stopped altogether.

Alongside this, Joe’s wider health has remained stable and carefully monitored. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019 and treated with radiotherapy and ongoing hormone therapy. His PSA levels have reduced from 18 at diagnosis to 0.071, the lowest they have ever been. He has also been treated for bowel and bladder cancer, both of which are currently stable under regular medical surveillance.

Joe sees his GP every four to six weeks for blood testing. At his most recent review, his GP described his results — including blood sugar and liver markers — as the best they have ever been, commenting that he is clearly doing something right. In addition to IHHT, Joe attends weekly breathing and relaxation sessions at the Sunflowers Cancer Support Centre on Aigburth Road and practises breathing exercises at home.

So what exactly is Intermittent Hypoxic Hyperoxic Therapy?

IHHT involves breathing alternating levels of low-oxygen air, similar to what the body experiences at altitude, and high-oxygen air, richer than normal atmospheric oxygen. These controlled shifts gently stimulate the body’s adaptive responses, encouraging it to use oxygen more efficiently rather than forcing change through medication or invasive intervention.

Scientific research suggests that intermittent hypoxia and hyperoxia can positively influence mitochondrial function — the process by which cells generate energy. Improved mitochondrial efficiency is associated with better metabolic regulation, enhanced circulation and vascular health, and increased resilience to physiological stress. This adaptive response, often referred to as hormesis, allows the body to strengthen its own protective and repair mechanisms.

Studies published in peer-reviewed journals have explored the potential role of IHHT in supporting metabolic health, cardiovascular function and overall cellular efficiency, particularly in older adults and those managing long-term conditions.

Joe and his wife June have become strong advocates for the therapy. So confident are they in its benefits that they have recently booked a further 15 IHHT sessions. Beyond the clinical outcomes, it has been genuinely lovely to see them both regularly in the clinic. Joe and June are always a pleasure to welcome — there’s always time for a friendly chat, and June’s warmth, kindness and unwavering support for Joe never go unnoticed. Over time, we have all come to know her well, and it truly feels as though we’ve become friends. We always look forward to their visits.

IHHT is not a replacement for NHS care or medical treatment. It is a complementary therapy designed to work alongside existing medical support, helping the body respond more effectively and maintain balance over time.

For people in Liverpool living with diabetes, fatigue, circulatory concerns or the long-term effects of illness and ageing, Intermittent Hypoxic Hyperoxic Therapy offers a carefully monitored, non-invasive way to support whole-body health. Joe’s experience highlights how supporting the body’s oxygen systems may contribute to meaningful improvements — sometimes in ways that exceed expectations.

References & Further Reading

1. Serebrovska ZO, Serebrovska TV, Kholin VA.

Intermittent hypoxia–hyperoxia training improves mitochondrial function and metabolic regulation.

Frontiers in Physiology, 2019.

2. Navarrete-Opazo A, Mitchell GS.

Therapeutic potential of intermittent hypoxia: a matter of dose.

Journal of Applied Physiology, 2014.

3. Burtscher M, Gatterer H, Faulhaber M, et al.

Effects of intermittent hypoxic conditioning on cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Hypoxia, 2018.

4. Verges S, Chacaroun S, Godin-Ribuot D, Baillieul S.

Hypoxic conditioning as a therapeutic strategy in cardiovascular and metabolic disease.