THE MODERN STATE OF THE PROBLEM OF OXYGEN DEFICIENCY: SANOGENIC AND PATHOGENIC ACTION OF HYPOXIA

Abstract

This lecture is dedicated to hypoxia (a lack of oxygen of various degrees) – a frequent emerging state of normal livelihoods, which initiates behavioral, physiological and biochemical adaptation mechanisms that can completely or partially restore the active functioning of the organism or cause the development of pathology. Each cell (or organism) has a limit of individual resistance to hypoxia. This limit may vary with the environment, previous training, or age of the patient. It can and must be evaluated to predict the future state of the organism. Hypoxic states exceeding the resistance limit due to external respiration, pulmonary edema, weakening of the pumping function of the heart, blood loss, blockade of the oxygen function of red blood cells, poisoning, blockade of mitochondria or other consequences of pathogenic hypoxia require qualifi ed medical assistance. Reactions to hypoxia of moderate intensity, which arise when performing physical work, staying in the mountains at altitudes of up to 4 thousand m above sea level (orotherapy), or when breathing gas mixtures containing O2 within 10-14% (instrumental orotherapy) increase non-specifi c resistance of the organism. The controlled gas atmosphere is able to improve the effi ciency of the mechanisms of oxygen utilization, increase its effi ciency in adverse conditions of life. Such effects can be defi ned by the term «sanogenic» hypoxia, which positively affects the level of health. Sanogenic hypoxia should be used as a preventive measure for improving the level of health, or as a medical treatment for a variety of diseases associated with microcirculation disorders or oxidative processes in tissues.

Keywords

• hypoxia, oxidative processes, individual resistance, health, preventive medicine, physiology, pathophysiology