PO2 changes & performance at altitude

PO2 Changes & Performance at Altitude

How does PO2 change with altitude?

As altitude increases the PO2 will decrease which will then affect exercise performance. At sea level the PO2 is around 159 mmHg and as altitude increases this number will decrease. This will cause less O2 to be available to use during activity which will reduce O2 saturation of hemoglobin in the blood. This is why many athletes will have a decline in exercise capacity and endurance.

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Overall, knowing and understanding these adaptations s crucial to be able to perform under pressure and at high antitudes.

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-Hypoxia will occur in areas with lower O2 and is when tissues will get less oxygen then needed at sea level.-The body can adapt with acclimatization and physiological changes like increased RBC production, better capillary density and better pulmonary ventilation. -During intense exercise the VO2 max will decrease at the altitude. Apparently, the VO2 max can drop 1.9% for every 300 meters above 1,500 meters.

Research shows that high altitude exposure can cause a hemoglobin concentration increase and hematocrit levels which is important to help with the bloods oxygen carrying capacity. This adpatation is very important to help with the decline in arterial O2 saturation which happens because of reduced PO2 at the high altitude. This process of acclimatization causes an increase in RBC count and physiological adaptations in the ventilatory and cardiovascular systems. This is because, usually in the beginning there is a increase in the ventilatory response which causes better O2 uptake even with the lower PO2 in the area. Increased plasma volumes can also occur and better muscle oxygenation to help with endurance and better performance. Timing and length of exposure is important because short term exposure might not be enough but a lomger stay such as a couple weeks or more could cause better improvements in the VO2 max.