I read this story over at Grough earlier today. It details the results of a study of the amount of oxygen in climbers’ blood at high altitude that has some startling results.
Back in 2007 a group of mountaineers went for the summit of Everest while being closely monitored by a team of doctors who kept track of a variety of bodily functions, including the amount of oxygen in the climbers’ blood stream. Samples were taken at The Balcony on Everest’s South Side at approximately 8400m, and were then quickly carried back to a medical station set up at 6400m.
When examined while still on the mountain, and a relatively short time after being taken, even the doctors were surprised at what they found. They expected to find lower oxygen levels of course, and that was proven to be true, but on average, the levels of oxygen were so low, that they were about half that of someone considered to be critically ill. In the case of one mountaineer, the levels were dubbed to be “near-fatal”, and ended up being the lowest oxygen levels ever recorded.
The fact that these climbers were able to live, and in numerous cases thrive, on such low levels of oxygen may change the way that doctors treat patients in the future. Someone who is acclimatized to the lower levels will not need to have their oxygen levels treated, allowing medical staff to instead focus on other issues, such as hypothermia or altitude sickness.
Interesting study. Not completely surprising results, but the extremely low levels are definitely eye-opening. It’s amazing how much our bodies can tolerate and adapt to situations.
- Gear Review: The Xero Scrambler Mid is an Ultralight Hiking Shoe for Spring - March 1, 2023
- Gear Review: Yeti Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler - August 18, 2022
- Kristin Harila Continues Pursuit of 8000-Meter Speed Record - August 16, 2022
It is quite amazing. One does not really think about how little oxygen we really need to survive once we are in that mode.
Yep! The human body never ceases to amaze. It’s hard to remember, but back when Reinhold Messner went up Everest without oxygen for the first time, people thought he was crazy. He might as well have said he was going to the moon without oxygen too.