Project title: Pre-acclimatization in normobaric hypoxia for AMS prevention
January to December 2019
Institute of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck
Staff member: Daniel Jochum
(Master’s degree programme in Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Institute of Sport Science)
An acute exposure to altitude above 2,500 m can lead to the onset of acute mountain sickness (AMS). In most cases, AMS is mild, with symptoms such as headache, loss of appetite or nausea, fatigue and sleep disturbances. However, these symptoms can severely impair the well-being of those affected, and in some cases motor and cognitive limitations can negatively affect safety in everyday life and in mountain sports. In rare cases, high-altitude pulmonary oedema or high-altitude cerebral oedema may also occur, which can become life-threatening if immediate treatment and evacuation to lower altitudes are not carried out.
In addition to classic acclimatization (continuous stay at altitude) and/or pharmacological interventions, pre-acclimatization at simulated altitude is an option to minimize the risk of AMS. In this context, it was recently shown that just 2 days of pre-acclimatization at 3,000 or 3,500 m at natural altitude can reduce the incidence of AMS during a subsequent exposure to 4,300 m by more than 50%. However, the effectiveness of pre-acclimatization in normobaric hypoxia, which would be easier to implement from a practical perspective, is still under discussion.
The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the effects of pre-acclimatization over 2 nights in normobaric hypoxia on the severity and incidence of AMS during a subsequent 22-hour stay at 4,300 m.