Simulated Altitude Sherpa Study

Over the last few weeks, the Xtreme Everest 2 team have been working hard in a lab in Archway in a hypoxia chamber conducting a study on Sherpas and lowlanders. It is well known that Sherpas are able to function at a much higher level at altitude than inhabitants from sea level. However, relatively little research has been done investigating how Sherpas are so well adapted to high altitude and, consequently, why they do not suffer the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness.

For this study, each subject recruited came to the laboratory for two consecutive days. On the first day, subjects underwent all the tests in normoxia (air in which oxygen levels are normal). On the second day, subjects repeated the tests in hypoxia at 12% oxygen, which is roughly the same as the amount of oxygen available at Everest Base Camp. Subjects carry underwent a range of tests including blood tests, spirometry, nitric oxide tests, laser Doppler, venous plethesmography and a cardiopulmonary exercise test which involves cycling to exhaustion.

So far the study has gone very well. The Sherpas have now been tested, along with the final lowlanders. The results from this pilot study will be beneficial in guiding the research carried out in Spring 2013 when we are taking 42 Sherpas to Everest Base Camp. In our quest to understand why patients in Intensive Care tolerate hypoxia (low oxygen levels) differently, we hope that understanding the mechanisms by which Sherpas are able to endure low oxygen will enable us to help critically ill patients.

Xtreme Everest 2 are still looking for healthy volunteers to assist them on the expedition next year.