Mountain sport activities as for example hiking or skiing may involve the risk of adverse health events especially in older people not accustomed to the specific mountain sport at altitude or people with pre-existing health issues. Increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system and abrupt changes in heart rate and blood pressure are thought to trigger these adverse effects. Preventive measures include regular physical activity (i.e. training) and adequate medical treatment. Hypoxia pre-adaptation (e.g., pre-adapt one night at moderate altitude) and pre-conditioning (e.g., intermittent hypoxia (IH) training), which was shown to lead to some favorable sympathetic nervous system, ventilatory and metabolic adaptations and additionally exerts anti-inflammatory action, could be hypothesized of being a further preventive measure. The aim of this research project is to investigate whether intermittent hypoxia pre-conditioning or sleeping one night at altitude (i.e., current recommendation before practicing mountain leisure sports in the elderly) is able to increase oxygen saturation during passive hypoxia exposure and during simulated hiking and skiing at altitude. Additionally, it is aimed to investigate whether such procedure reduces the physiological responses (i.e., heart rate, its variability and blood pressure (including baroreflex sensitivity) responses as well as metabolic, ventilatory, inflammatory and redox responses) during these activities.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
17
Administration of different hypoxic doses. Intermittent hypoxia: days 1-5 duration of breathing periods 5\*3min (FiO2 14-21%) days 8-12 duration of breathing periods 4\*4min (FiO2 = 12%) and 3\*3 min (FiO2 = 21%) days 15-19 duration of breathing periods 5\*5min (FiO2 = 10%) and 4\*3 min (FiO2 = 21%) one night at 1900m
Eurac Research
Bolzano, BZ, Italy
Resting oxygen saturation (%) at altitude
Resting oxygen saturation changes after the pre-conditioning and pre-adaptation program at 3000 m altitude
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
Oxygen saturation during exercise at altitude
Oxygen saturation during exercise changes after the pre-conditioning and pre-adaptation program at 3000 m altitude
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
Heart rate (bpm) responses during rest and during exercise at altitude
Heart rate response changes after the pre-conditioning and pre-adaptation program at rest and during exercise at 3000 m altitude.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
Blood pressure (mmHg) responses during rest and during exercise at altitude
Blood pressure responses during rest and during exercise at altitude
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
Changes of inflammatory markers (i.e., hsCRP) from before to after the pre-conditioning and pre-adaptation program
Inflammatory markers may change due to the programs
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
Changes of physiological stress markers (i.e., catecholamine) from before to after the pre-conditioning and pre-adaptation program
Markers of physiological stress may change due to the programs
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
Changes in heart rate variability (HRV) from before to after the pre-conditioning and pre-adaptation program
HRV may change due to the programs
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
Changes in baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) from before to after the pre-conditioning and pre-adaptation program
BRS may change due to the programs
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
Changes of markers of myocardial injury (e.g., highly sensitive cardiac troponin T) from before to after the pre-conditioning and pre-adaptation program
Markers of myocardial injury may change due to the programs
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
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