Room oxygen enrichment improves sleep and subsequent day-time performance at high altitude

Author:

Luks, Andrew M., van Melick, Harm, Batarse, Rodolfo R., Powell, Frank L., Grant, Igor, West, John B.

Title:

Room oxygen enrichment improves sleep and subsequent day-time performance at high altitude

Periodical:

Respiration Physiology

Year:

1998

Volume:

113

Pages:

247-258

Subject:

High altitude Sleep disordered breathing Sleep disorders Altitude hypoxia Acute mountain sickness (AMS) Altitude mountain sickness (AMS)

Summary:

According to a report that was issued by the World Health Organization in 1996, nearly 140 million people lived at altitudes of 2500 meters with many living at much higher altitudes. As a result, this paper demonstrates the feasibility of setting up an oxygen-enriched room at the University of California's White Mountain Research Station where a randomized, double-blind study was conducted at an altitude of 3800 meters. The objective was to test whether a small degree of room oxygen enrichment at night improved the quality of sleep as well as the performance and well-being of the subjects who participated in the study the following day. It was found that when the subjects who slept with oxygen enrichment, experienced a significantly-improved sleep quality, had fewer apneas, and spent less time in periodic breathing with apneas. In addition, a lower rate of acute mountain sickness occurred in these subjects during the morning that followed oxygen-enriched sleep as well as a greater increase in arterial oxygen saturation from evening to morning. This suggested that the control of breathing may have been altered. As a result, this study showed promise for improving the well-being of commuters and residents who travel to high altitudes.

Label:

Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS)

URL:

http://cletus.uhh.hawaii.edu:2074/10.1016/S0034-5687(98)00068-1

Date:

September 1998

Collection:

Periodicals