Yes. Ability to transport oxygen and extent of oxidative damage are two different things entirely.

There actually is some evidence for benefits from living in slightly hypoxic environments, though. Also for intermittent hypoxia intentionally applied. Sleep apnea is overkill, too much is damaging instead of triggering a beneficial response.

https://gettingstronger.org/2016/08...its-of-hypoxia/



I remember wondering about this years ago when I noticed that a lot of higher longevity than usual claims were in people living at elevation. One problem with this is these places are sort of off the beaten track and might have escaped more exacting record keeping until fairly recently.

There was a story a while back showing traditional pearl divers having larger spleens. An increased reserve of oxygen-carrying red blood cells helps them stay under longer, I thought that was pretty cool.