Exercise at Altitude

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Exercise at Altitude

• Stress of Altitude
• Oxygen loading
• Oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve
• Mexico City
• Mt Everest

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Acclimatization

• Is the adaptive responses in physiology and
  metabolism that improves tolerance to altitude
  hypoxia
• Immediate and long term adjustments
• 2 weeks for 2300 m
• Additional week for each 610 m

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Immediate-Pulmonary

• Hyperventilation
• Body fluids become more alkaline due to reduction
  in CO2

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Immediate-Cardiovascular

• Increase in submax HR
• Increase in submax CO
• SV same or lower
• Max CO remains the same or lower

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Long Term-Pulmonary

• Hyperventilation
• Excretion of base via Kidneys
• Reduction of alkaline reserve

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Long Term-Cardiovascular

• Submax HR elevated
• Submax CO falls
• SV lowers
• Max CO lowers

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Long Term-Hematological

• Decrease plasma volume
• Increase hematocrit
• Increase hemoglobin concentration
• Increase number of RBC
• Increased capillarization

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Long Term-Local

• Increased RBC 2,3-DPG
• Increased Mitochondria
• Increased aerobic enzymes
• Loss of body weight
• Loss of lean body mass

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Medical Problems

• Acute Mountain Sickness
• High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema
• High-Altitude Cerebral Edema

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Exercise Capacity

• Aerobic Capacity is reduced 1.5-3.5 for every
  305 meter increase above 1524 meters
• Aerobic Capacity remains reduced even several
  months after acclimatization

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Altitude Training and Sea level Performance

• VO2 max on return to sea level
• No improvement
• Reduction in Max CO offsets bloods greater O2
  carrying capacity
• Can not train at same intensity of VO2 max
• No difference between AT vs. Sea Level