Mimicking an altitude increase

Vino2007

We all know moving to the mountains will boost our haematocrit levels... but what oxygen-deprivation techniques can you implement into your daily routine without resorting to drugs and that lot?
Would sleeping with a snorkel show any significant results? or a dust mask ?

shockedsoshocked

Stop breathing for sustained periods.

Alex_Simmons/RST

In order to mimic the impact of altitude, you need to expose yourself to hypoxic conditions for at least 8-12 hours / day and do so for many weeks on end.

It requires lowering the partial pressure of the O2 you breathe, which is most commonly mimicked with altitude rooms or tents. This can be done by lowering the overall atmospheric pressure, or reducing the % of O2 in the normobaric air.

You can also use a hypoxicator device, but that means wearing a mask and being tied to a machine for long periods, which is even less practical than altitude simulation rooms/tents.