DIY Altitude Training

Altitude Training is an effective way of improving performance or preparing for a visit to high elevation. However, many of the solutions are expensive, often running to the thousands of dollars. I've used the AltoLab system for some time, and while it works well, there are some obvious improvements that can be made, plus it's remarkably expensive for what it is. I've created a simple DIY altitude training system that is cheap, effective and does not require any significant fabrication tools or experience.

1 How does it work?

At high altitude there is the same percentage of oxygen in the air, but the air is under lower pressure, so each lungful contains less oxygen. This causes a drop in the level of oxygen in your blood (called SpO₂). Nearly all altitude training systems work by reducing the amount of oxygen in the air you breathe (hypoxia), rather than reducing the pressure (hypobaric). There are various ways of achieving this reduction in oxygen, but the simplest is to rebreathe your exhaled air. This works because you absorb oxygen from the air you breathe. Each time you rebreathe the same air the oxygen level drops. However, there is a problem with simply rebreathing the same air as the carbon dioxide levels rise as the oxygen level drops. Because your Breathing rate is driven by the CO2 level in your blood, this will cause you to increase your breathing, which in turn will prevent any drop in your blood oxygen level. The solution is to breathe in and out via a chemical that will remove the CO2, called a CO2 scrubber. This is the function of the DIY Hypoxicator, which is at the heart of this DIY system.

2 Types of Altitude Training

Main article: Altitude Training Approaches

This altitude training system uses Intermittent Hypoxic Exposure (IHE), which uses repeated short periods of low oxygen (hypoxia) rather than a single overnight period that you would get with an 'altitude tent'. With IHE the hypoxia exposure is at rest rather than while exercising. Intermittent Hypoxia while exercising is called Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT), though the terminology is used inconsistently. This system could be used for IHT, but I've not tried that.

3 What you will need

You will need to get the following components.

• Hypoxicator. You will need to build a hypoxicator, which is detailed under DIY Hypoxicator. This is the only bit of fabrication you'll need to do. This should only cost around $20 or so to build.
• CO2 Scrubber. As detailed in the DIY Hypoxicator instructions, the CO2 scrubber is a consumable, so buy enough to last you for a few weeks. I typically buy 3-5 bags at a time.
• Pulse Oximeter. To monitor and control your altitude training, and to keep you safe, you need to measure your SpO₂ with a Pulse Oximeter. You can get a good one for about $35, or one with a PC interface for recording and analysis with the Hypoxic Timer software for $85. Using this system without a Pulse Oximeter is dangerous as you may drop your SpO₂ too low.
• Timer. You will need to time your hypoxic and recovery periods, either with a simple countdown timer or with some software like the Hypoxic Timer .
• Viral/bacterial filters. These will keep your lungs clean and should be replaced periodically. I have 2-3 open that I cycle through to make sure they have plenty of time to dry out between uses. They cost around $3 each; Main Flow Bacterial/Viral Filter at Allegro Medical or Breathing Filter.
• Hose. The hose I use is cheap, though you have to buy it in 100 foot (30m) lengths for $15. CORR-A-FLEX II Roll Tubing at Allegro Medical.
• Mouthpiece. I've not been able to find another supplier of the mouthpiece I use, but this Angled Mouthpiece for MABIS Nebulizers works and it is only $3. (You'll need to tape the hole at the bend.) I recommend against using a facemask, and it's vital you don't attach the mouthpiece to your head. If your SpO2 drops too low you might pass out, in which case you need the mouthpiece to fall out so you'll start breathing normal air and recover.
• Tee adapter. To branch the hose I use a Tee adapter taken from this Drainage Bag as it was only $2.
• Adapters. It's handy to have some adapters like this multi adapt to connect hoses together or change a male to female end, and they are only a dollar or so.
• Valve. I got a plastic plumbing valve from a local DIY store. I've used both a ball valve, and a screw valve, and the screw valve shown to the right seems to be far more controllable.
• Bag. I use a cheap 2.5 gallon Ziploc bag for the rebreathing. I cut a small hole in the end and attach it either directly to the hypoxicator with a cable tie or to half of a viral filter so I can remove it easily.
• Freezer packs (optional). Rebreathing can cause quite a buildup of heat and moisture, so putting a few freezer packs in the bag helps keep things cool and condenses out some of the moisture.
• O2 Meter (optional). I have a OxyCheq Expedition-X Oxygen Analyzer which is expensive at $250, but I find it useful. The O2 level changes faster than SpO₂, so it makes adjustments easier. I would not get the meter until you know you'll be using the system regularly enough to justify the cost.

This is the screw type valve I've found quite effective. I find I only need to make about 1/16 of a turn to open the valve enough.

A close up of the angled mouthpiece, with and without the tape so you can see the hole.

A couple of other mouthpieces you can get. One is from the MICRO MIST Nebulizer ($2) and the other is from the Respirgard II Nebulizer ($12).

4 Three Configurations

This is the simplest configuration, consisting of the mouthpiece, viral filter, hose, DIY hypoxicator and the bag.

The system with the addition of the tee adapter and ball value.

This is my configuration, with the optional O2 meter.

5 Cautions

Please read this section carefully, as it is not simply a liability disclaimer.

• Like any form of training, altitude training has some inherent risks associated with it. It's a good idea to talk to your physician before starting any new form of training. If you have any concerns or possible medical issues, you should discuss altitude training with your relevant medical professional.
• I have not found a clear, approved list of contraindications, but the following symptoms are listed as reasons why you should not perform altitude training without explicit medical approval.
  • Acute infections.
  • Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
  • Epilepsy.
  • High blood pressure, such as over 145 systolic or over 90 diastolic.
  • Low blood pressure, such as under 80 systolic or under 50 diastolic.
  • Heart disease, pacemakers or irregular heartbeat.
  • Blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia.
  • Anemia.
• I have seen no research on the effect of altitude training on pregnancy, but it would seem prudent to avoid altitude training if you are pregnant or believe that you maybe.
• If you are using altitude training to treat a specific medical condition such as asthma, sleep apnea, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, etc., then consulting your medical specialist is especially vital.
• It's unclear what the optimum SpO₂ level should be, but generally SpO₂ levels below 75% are not recommended and should be avoided.
• Never use the altitude training system without monitoring your SpO₂. While there are symptoms of low SpO₂, such as lightheadedness or tunnel vision, these are not reliable predictors of a particular SpO₂.
• The soda lime used to absorb the carbon dioxide is corrosive, and inhaling any soda lime is extremely harmful and will cause lung damage. Therefore, never use the hypoxicator without the antiviral filter in place and check the filter is intact.
• Never attach the mouthpiece to your face. If you should lose consciousness, it's vital that you'll drop the mouthpiece and breathe normal room air.
• Having your blood tested to ensure you are not anemic is highly recommended. The standard anemia test is often considered inadequate and instead you should get your serum ferritin levels checked. The range of values considered 'normal' varies between different authorities, but a representative example is 12-300 ng/mL for men and 12-150 ng/mL for women. However, it is recommended that for altitude training serum ferritin levels are above 60 ng/mL. (Remember that iron is toxic, so you need just the right amount. Do not take supplementary iron without knowing for sure that you need it.)
• The antiviral filter should be replaced periodically, and you should make sure it dries out fully between uses. I typically have 2 to 3 filters that I rotate through to make sure they are completely dry.
• The mouthpiece should plug directly into the antiviral filter so that there is very little unfiltered air in the system.
• All tubing and equipment should be cleaned periodically. You really don't want to breathe in any mold or bacteria.

6 Using the System

• Connect all the parts as shown in the pictures above.
• The more air you have in the bag at the start, the longer it will take for your SpO₂ to drop, so I make sure the bag starts off empty.
• Put on the Pulse Oximeter and wait for it to get a reading. Do not attempt to use the system without a Pulse Oximeter.
• If you're using the ball valve, close it completely.
• Start a timer (or use the Hypoxic Timer software).
• Start breathing through the mouthpiece. It will take a minute or two for the oxygen in the bag to drop, and your SpO₂ drop will lag behind that.
• Once your SpO₂ drops, but before it reaches your target you will need to start mixing some room air into the system. You can either do this by cracking open the ball valve slightly or by taking a partial breath from the room. You will need to find the right balance of room air to rebreathed air that will keep your SpO₂ near your target based on trial and error. This is takes some practice to get right, but it a lot easier with the ball valve.
• Once your time is up, remove the mouthpiece and breathe room air. After the recovery period, restart the hypoxia and repeat the appropriate number of intervals.

7 IHE Plans

Guidance on the plans for the pattern of hypoxic exposure and recovery can be found at Intermittent Hypoxic Exposure.

8 Hypoxic Timer

I've created a simple utility that interfaces to a Pulse Oximeter and displays the real-time SpO₂, as well is calculating the hypoxic dose (Hypoxic Training index, or HTi). You can find more details at Hypoxic Timer.

Example of SpO2 from an IHE training session. The green vertical line marks the end of the hypoxic time and the red vertical line marks the beginning of the hypoxic time. The red line is SpO2, with the green fill showing above 90%, blue fill showing 90-75% and the pink fill showing below 75%. The blue line is heart rate.

A screenshot of the Hypoxic Timer.

9 After Use

After you've finished using the system, disconnect the parts to let them dry out. However, the hypoxicator should not be dried out as moisture is part of the CO2 scrubber. Put the hypoxicator into a plastic bag and seal it so that it is airtight. You will see quite a bit of condensation in the hypoxicator, which is quite normal.

10 CO2 Scrubber Replacement

Because the CO2 scrubber uses a chemical reaction to remove the CO2, it will become exhausted over time. I've found that the scrubber seems to last much longer in my DIY system than the AltoLab system I used before. The best indication that the scrubber is exhausted is that you will feel a change in your lungs. This feeling is due to the buildup of CO2, which creates a strong desire to breathe, and you will feel like you can't get enough air. If you have that feeling, it's time to replace the CO2 scrubber. The scrubber has a color change indicator that will go purple, which you can see if you use a clear sided container. The color will change even on the first use, but it will fade after a few hours. I've found that once the color change is still present next time I come to use the system it's probably close to exhaustion.

This is how my CO2 scrubber looked at exhaustion. Note that this is the day after it was last used, and the color has faded.

This is a close up of the CO2 scrubber.

Immediately after use the CO2 scrubber had a much darker color.

11 Troubleshooting

There are a few common problems you may encounter with this DIY system.

• If your SpO₂ level does not drop and your breathing is relaxed and easy, you probably have a leak somewhere.
• If your SpO₂ level does not drop, your breathing is strained and you feel like your lungs are burning, then your CO2 scrubber is not working. If the scrubber has turned purple, then it's exhausted, but if it's still white then maybe your DIY Hypoxicator is too small.
• If your CO2 scrubber seems to get exhausted quickly, check that you are filling it fully. See the image below for details.

Here you can see the result of a slight air gap at the top of the scrubber. The air is choosing the path of least resistance, and flowing up and over the CO2 scrubber, resulting in poor CO2 removal and rapid depletion of the scrubber. The color of this picture has been enhanced so you can see the purple of the exhausted scrubber, and I've outlined the area. Note that there is only a slight air gap, but it's enough to make a difference.

12 Iron Deficiency and Anemia

If you are deficient in iron then it will be difficult for your body to adapt to altitude training. The best thing is to get your iron levels checked with a serum ferritin blood test. I have mine tested periodically at a local Walk In Lab. The cost is about $40, though they sometimes run offers.

13 Other People's Systems

If you build one of these systems, I'd be grateful if you let me know how you get on. I'm also interested if you find any improved parts or other suggestions for improvements. Below are photos of systems that other people have built.

System overview

Hypoicator close-up

Bag close-up