To experience the change in simulated altitude from 5,000 ft to 18,000 ft, and record the effects of such exposure on select cardiovascular and ventilatory parameters.

Volunteer students will be placed into the hypobarometric chamber, and gradually ascend in simulated altitude. Prior to ascent, baseline data will be collected for the following;

1. Heart rate (from pulse oximeter)
2. Ventilation rate (observation count)
3. Hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SaO₂) (from pulse oximeter)
4. AMS questionnaire

The ascent will be stopped at the following altitudes for data collection;

Once data has been collected for the 18,000 ft condition, the descent will occur, and data will once again be recorded at each of the prior altitudes, including 5,000 ft.

Process the AMS response to each item to get one score. Use this score as a dependent variable. No other data collected needs to be processed prior to statistical analysis.

Due to the multiple number of students involved, you can do conventional statistics on the data.

Treat the two conditions (ascent and descent) as two levels of a factor (CONDITION), and the 7 altitudes as levels of another factor (ALTITUDE). Duplicate the data for the 18,000 ft condition so that it is in each of the ascent and descent levels of CONDITION.

Perform 2-way repeated measures ANOVA’s on each dependent variable. Follow-up with simple effects analyses and post-hoc tests where appropriate.

Assess the linearity vs. nonlinearity of the responses for each variable.

Present data graphically, or in table form.

Are the changes in physiological variables linear or nonlinear with increases in altitude? Why?

Do all people respond the same? Why?

What are the physiological consequences of the acute responses to hypoxia that you observed/experienced?

See reading list