A new approach to the treatment of chronic nonspecific pulmonary disea
ses is proposed: helium-oxygen therapy combined with repeated interrup
ted hypoxic stimuli. Helium inclusion into hypoxic gas mixture leads t
o reduced air density. Gas mixture containing 10-15 % of oxygen is mor
e effective at the level of alveolocapillary membrane. When conducted
in normal atmospheric pressure, the method involved no complications a
nd produced positive responses in coronary heart disease, hypertension
, alimentary diseases. The mixture of helium with oxygen (85-90 % of h
elium, 10-15 % oxygen) in combination with impulse normobaric hypoxia
has been tried in 25 chronics with obstructive bronchitis and bronchia
l asthma. The results were indicative of the treatment efficacy: bronc
hial permeability improved in 67 % of the cases, forced vital capacity
of the lungs increased, inspiratory reserve volume grew, dyspnea and
cough diminished, sputum discharge improved, general tonicity and perf
ormance status changed positively. month follow-up evidenced positive
shifts too.