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Altitude Sickness
USA Scientific details research in altitude sickness
November 7th, 2009
According to recent research from the United States, "Beidleman, Beth A., Charles S. Fulco, Stephen R. Muza, Paul R. Rock, Janet E. Staab, Vincent A. Forte, Michael D. Brothers, and Allen Cymerman. Effect of six days of staging on physiological adjustments and acute mountain sickness during ascent to 4300 meters. High Alt. Med. Biol. 10: 253-260, 2009.- This study determined the effectiveness of 6 days (d) of staging at 2200 m on physiologic adjustments and acute mountain sickness (AMS) during rapid, high-risk ascent to 4300 m. Eleven sea-level (SL) resident men (means +/- SD; 21 +/- 3 yr; 78 +/- 13 kg) completed resting measures of end-tidal CO2 (PETCO2), arterial oxygen saturation (Sao(2)), heart rate (HR), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) at SL and within 1 h of exposure to 4300 m in a hypobaric chamber prior to 6 d of staging at 2200 m (preSTG) and on the summit of Pikes Peak following 6 d of staging at 2200 m (postSTG)." "Immediately following resting ventilation measures, all performed submaximal exercise (similar to 55% of altitude-specific maximal oxygen uptake) for similar to 2 h on a bicycle ergometer to induce higher levels of AMS. AMS-C, calculated from the Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire, was measured following 4 h and 8 h of exposure at preSTG and postSTG, and the mean was calculated. Resting PETCO2 (mmHg) was unchanged from SL (39.8 +/- 2.6) to preSTG (39.3 +/- 3.0), but decreased (p <0.05) from preSTG to postSTG (32.8 +/- 2.6). Resting Sao(2) (%) decreased (p <0.05) from SL (97 +/- 2) to preSTG (80 +/- 4) and increased (p <0.05) from preSTG to postSTG (83 +/- 3). Resting HR (bpm) and MAP ( mmHg) did not change in any of the test conditions. The incidence and severity of AMS-C decreased (p <0.05) from preSTG (91 +/- 30%; 1.05 +/- 0.56) to postSTG (45 +/- 53%; 0.59 +/- 0.43), respectively," wrote B.A. Beidleman and colleagues, USA Scientific. The researchers concluded: "These results suggest that modest physiologic adjustments induced by staging for 6 d at 2200 m reduced the incidence and severity of AMS during rapid, high-risk ascent to 4300 m." Beidleman and colleagues published their study in High Altitude Medicine & Biology (Effect of Six Days of Staging on Physiologic Adjustments and Acute Mountain Sickness during Ascent to 4300 Meters. High Altitude Medicine & Biology, 2009;10(3):253-260). For additional information, contact B.A. Beidleman, USA., Environmental Med Research Institute, Thermal & Mt Med Division, Kansas St., Natick, MA 01760, USA. Publisher contact information for the journal High Altitude Medicine & Biology is: Mary Ann Liebert Inc., 140 Huguenot Street, 3RD FL, New Rochelle, NY 10801, USA. Keywords: United States, Natick, Altitude Sickness, Physiology, USA Scientific. This article was prepared by NewsRx editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, NewsRx.com.
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