Hypoxic training for Masters?

I have noticed quite a few Masters swimmers dying from strokes. I'll take this as an expression of fear. Some random stats, picked up from unchecked Internet pages: Stroke is no. 3 cause of death (and some of those folks are likely Masters swimmers). Nearly 3/4 occur in ppl 65 and older. Smoking is a big risk factor. But "death while swimming" search pulls up such interesting tidbits as choking on a fish swallowed whole while swimming, cold urticaria, drowning, and other anomalies. Here is CDC's no. of deaths by leading cause, U.S., 2005: Heart disease: 652,091 Cancer: 559,312 Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 143,579 Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 130,933 Accidents (unintentional injuries): 117,809 Diabetes: 75,119 Alzheimer's disease: 71,599 Influenza/Pneumonia: 63,001 Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 43,901 Septicemia: 34,136 Separate from genetic causes of heart disease, plus environmental factors, swimming contributes greatly to a healthy cardiopulmonary system. Swimming also helps one cultivate social relationships, an important factor in longevity. :)

I have noticed quite a few Masters swimmers dying from strokes. I'll take this as an expression of fear. Some random stats, picked up from unchecked Internet pages: Stroke is no. 3 cause of death (and some of those folks are likely Masters swimmers). Nearly 3/4 occur in ppl 65 and older. Smoking is a big risk factor. But "death while swimming" search pulls up such interesting tidbits as choking on a fish swallowed whole while swimming, cold urticaria, drowning, and other anomalies. Here is CDC's no. of deaths by leading cause, U.S., 2005: Heart disease: 652,091 Cancer: 559,312 Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 143,579 Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 130,933 Accidents (unintentional injuries): 117,809 Diabetes: 75,119 Alzheimer's disease: 71,599 Influenza/Pneumonia: 63,001 Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 43,901 Septicemia: 34,136 Separate from genetic causes of heart disease, plus environmental factors, swimming contributes greatly to a healthy cardiopulmonary system. Swimming also helps one cultivate social relationships, an important factor in longevity. :)