Methods and apparatus are described to inhibit the adverse health effects of ischemia, hypoxia, anoxia or other stress by the application of a time-varying field to the region of the affected organ(s) for a short period of time (of the order of 20 minutes). A 'field' means a time-varying electric field, a time-varying magnetic field and/or a radiating electromagnetic field. The exposure can be started up to two or more hours in advance of the ischemic event or other stress causing event. Inhibition occurs even if the field is applied after the onset of ischemic or anoxic stress.