A Study of Human Acclimatization to Hypobaric Hypoxia

In the fall of 1985 eight male subjects lived for 45 days in a decompression chamber while the atmospheric pressure in the chamber was gradually reduced to simulate an ascent of Mt. Everest 8848 m, 29,028 ft. The purpose of the study was to examine all parts of the oxygen transport system during acclimatization to hypobaric hypoxia in an environment where the confounding stresses experienced on high mountains would be absent. Many chamber studies have defined the responses to acute exposure to high altitude, which are of great importance and interest to military and civilian aviators, as well as to millions of visitors to mountain resorts, but there have been few studies of acclimatization under the controlled conditions possible in the chamber.