Week 8- exercise and altitude

Question 1

what does a decrease in air pressure result in?

Answer 1

improved performance

Question 2

What does lower air density at altitude offer?

Answer 2

less resistance to high speed movement

Question 3

What does lower PO2 result in?

Answer 3

poorer aerobic performance

Question 4

What is Boyle’s law?

Answer 4

-gas volume is inversely proportional to its pressure
-altitude increases as pressure decreases
-airways contain 21% O2 but it is thinner at altitude and thicker at sea level

Question 5

What happens to atmospheric pressure at altitude?

Answer 5

atmospheric pressure decreases

Question 6

What is hypoxia?

Answer 6

low PO2 (altitude)

Question 7

What is Normoxia?

Answer 7

normal PO2 (sea level)

Question 8

What is hyperoxia?

Answer 8

high PO2

Question 9

What is hypoxaemia?

Answer 9

low levels of oxygen in the blood

Question 10

What does exposure to hypoxia directly result in?

Answer 10

the reduction of arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2)

Question 11

What does the disruption in homeostasis trigger?

Answer 11

neuroendocrine responses that help to regulate important adjustments in key physiological systems

Question 12

At what time at altitude do you become unconscious?

Answer 12

1 minute

Question 13

What is the immediate response to altitude?

Answer 13

get more oxygen in

Question 14

What ventilation changes occur at altitude?

Answer 14

-hyperventilation
-raises alveolar oxygen
-lowers alveolar cardon dioxide
-causes alkalosis and diuresis (HCO3)

Question 15

What are the cardiovascular changes at altitude?

Answer 15

increased resting heart rate and cardiac output

Question 16

What are the changes for ventilation at higher altitude?

Answer 16

increased ventilation

Question 17

What happens to heart rate at altitude?

Answer 17

decreased

Question 18

What happens to an individuals VO2max if they spend time at altitude?

Answer 18

increases

Question 19

What does more oxygen in the blood improve?

Answer 19

oxygen extraction capacity = less reliance of central delivery

Question 20

What is polycythemia due to?

Answer 20

increased erythropoietin(EPO)

Question 21

What is the usually oxygen carrying capacity in the blood?

Answer 21

200ml

Question 22

What are the effects of a decrease in plasma volume?

Answer 22

Helps the haemoglobin

Question 23

What does hyperventilation cause?

Answer 23

alkalosis

Question 24

What are the vascular/cellular changes at working at altitude?

Answer 24

-increased capillarisation
-increased myoglobin in the muscles
-increased aerobic enzymes
-increased lactate consumption and oxidation by active muscles

Question 25

What are the benefits of high altitude training?

Answer 25

-blood changes (red cell mass)
-some cellular changes
-some circulatory changes

Question 26

what are the detriments of high altitude training?

Answer 26

-blood changes (velocity)
-cardiovascular changes
-loss of training intensity
-reduced muscle mass
-increased response

Question 27

what is the solution to high altitude training?

Answer 27

-live high
-train low
-tents believed by many to be an effective performance enhancer

Question 28

What happens to red blood cell mass when living at altitude?

Answer 28

increase

Question 29

What does an increase in red blood cell mass result in?

Answer 29

increased VO2max

Question 30

What are the potential mechanisms training at altitude have an effect on?

Answer 30

increase EPO,
increase RBC mass
improved mitochondria function
increased buffering capacity