An IHT session consists of an interval of several minutes breathing hypoxic (low oxygen) air, alternated with intervals breathing ambient (normoxic) or hyperoxic air.
The procedure may be repeated several times in variable-length sessions per day, depending on a physician's prescription or a manufacturer's protocol.
[1] Standard practice is for the patient to remain stationary while breathing hypoxic air via a hand-held mask.
The therapy is delivered using a hypoxicator during the day time, allowing the dosage to be monitored.
[2][3][clarification needed] It is important to differentiate between physiological adaptations to mild hypoxia and re-oxygenation episodes (i.e., the IHT protocol) and frequent nocturnal suffocation awakenings produced by sleep apnea, which might result in various pathologies.