When we are training and we have clear objectives, such as those related to increasing muscle mass or some other that involves muscle development, it is important to take care of the diet, the technique when performing the exercises and, above all, muscle regeneration.
Of all the above, muscle regeneration is probably the characteristic that is least taken into account when developing muscles, since it depends for the most part on the rest and rehabilitation that we can have.
On the other hand, hypoxia, although known for its negative effects, could promote muscle regeneration . Learn about the link between hypoxia and muscle regeneration.
What is hypoxia?
Hypoxia is a state of oxygen deficiency in the blood, which can cause difficulty in the functioning of some organs, but what does hypoxia have to do with muscle regeneration ? Well, according to a recent study, it was discovered that the heart can regenerate in a low-oxygen environment.
These findings were published in the journal ” Nature ” and are based on years of work and research that began with the discovery that the hearts of newborn mammals have the ability to regenerate , almost equal to the ability of skin to regenerate after have caused a cut.
However, this capacity of the heart decreases as the mammal grows and begins to age, mainly due to the flow of oxygen that enters the bloodstream, causing damage to cardiomyocyte cells (myocardial or heart muscle cells capable of contracting spontaneously and individually).
What are the benefits of hypoxia for the body?
According to Dr. Hesman Sadek, professor of Internal Medicine, “the adult heart does not have the capacity to regenerate after having suffered a heart attack, since its consequences are devastating.” In general, healthy heart muscles are adequately supplied with oxygen; however, some research cardiologists have been able to regenerate heart muscle in experiments, placing mice in an extremely low-oxygen environment.
During this experiment carried out at the ” Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine “, they gradually lowered the oxygen breathed by the mice to 7%. After two weeks they obtained positive results: the cells of the heart muscle (cardiomyocytes) divided and grew. This is surprising, since under normal circumstances, the cells of the heart muscle do not divide.
How does hypoxia influence muscle regeneration?
During the study, the researchers lowered the oxygen level from 21% to 7% for weeks. While the oxygen level was decreased, cardiac function was monitored, showing that the reduction of oxygen promotes better cardiac function and an increase in cardiomyocytes.
Although these researchers tried to obtain responses by placing the mice in an environment with 10% oxygen, they did not respond to the effects of the reduction. Precisely when we talk about low oxygen levels (like 7%) we mean hypoxia.
“This work shows that hypoxia is equivalent to that existing at the summit of Everest, and can even reverse heart disease. That’s extraordinary, ”says Dr. Benjamin Levine, professor of Internal Medicine.
Undoubtedly we are talking about a great discovery that in the future would give much to talk about, because according to Dr. Sadek, in theory “the effects of the repair could not only be in the heart muscle, but in other organs as well” giving to understand that hypoxia can influence muscle regeneration and improve cardiovascular health.
Reference
- Daniel Safvat. “A Link Hypoxia And Muscle Regeneration”. For Breakingmuscle [Revised January 2017]
