Hydrogen Breathing Helps Patients with Blocked Airways Breathe Easier
Breathing Hydrogen-Oxygen Mixture Decreases Inspiratory Effort in Patients with Tracheal Stenosis
Research hubs: Respiratory System
- Evidence type
- Uncontrolled trial (single-arm or pilot) · Human study
- Authors
- Zi-Qing Zhou, Chang-Hao Zhong, Zhu-Quan Su, Xiao-Ying Li, Yu Chen, Xiao-Bo Chen, Chun-Li Tang, Lu-Qian Zhou, Shi-Yue Li
- Journal
- Respiration
- Year
- 2018
- PMID
- 30227423
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 35
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 6 L per min H2-O2 mixture (H2:O2 = 2:1) for 15 min, then 120 min
- H₂ concentration
- 2:1 H2:O2 ratio
- Duration
- 1 day or less
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 48 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Breathing a mix of hydrogen and oxygen gas can safely ease the effort of breathing in patients with severe narrowing of the windpipe.
Key Finding
Breathing a hydrogen-oxygen mixture reduced the electrical activity of the diaphragm by an average of 10.53% compared to breathing regular air or oxygen alone in patients with severe tracheal stenosis.
Summary
This study tested whether breathing a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen could help patients with severe narrowing of the windpipe (tracheal stenosis) breathe more easily. Thirty-five patients breathed regular air, then the hydrogen-oxygen mixture, then oxygen, and then the hydrogen-oxygen mixture again for longer periods. Researchers measured how hard the breathing muscles had to work using electrical sensors on the diaphragm (the main breathing muscle). The hydrogen-oxygen mixture reduced the effort needed to breathe by about 10%, and patients reported feeling less short of breath, with no harmful side effects.
Practical Takeaway
This early human evidence suggests that hydrogen-oxygen gas mixtures may help reduce breathing effort in people with severe tracheal stenosis, a serious medical condition. However, this was a small study in a specific patient population with a narrow airway problem, so results may not apply to other conditions or healthy people. More research is needed before hydrogen-oxygen mixtures could be considered for broader use.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Hydrogen-oxygen mixture (H2-O2) may reduce airway resistance in patients with acute severe tracheal stenosis, yet data supporting the clinical use of H2-O2 are insufficient. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of breathing H2-O2 in acute severe tracheal stenosis. Methods…