Physiological and genomic consequences of intermittent hypoxia - Invited review: Physiological and pathophysiological responses to intermittent hypoxia

This mini-review summarizes the physiological adaptations to and pathophysi ological consequences of intermittent hypoxia with special emphasis given t o the pathophysiology associated with obstructive sleep apnea. Intermittent hypoxia is an effective stimulus for evoking the respiratory, cardiovascul ar, and metabolic adaptations normally associated with continuous chronic h ypoxia. These adaptations are thought by some to be beneficial in that they may provide protection against disease as well as improve exercise perform ance in athletes. The long-term consequences of chronic intermittent hypoxi a may have detrimental effects, including hypertension, cerebral and corona ry vascular problems, developmental and neurocognitive deficits, and neurod egeneration due to the cumulative effects of persistent bouts of hypoxia. E mphasis is placed on reviewing the available data on intermittent hypoxia, making extensions from applicable information from acute and chronic hypoxi a studies, and pointing out major gaps in information linking the genomic a nd cellular responses to intermittent hypoxia with physiological or pathoph ysiological responses.