Response of women mountaineers to maximal exercise during hypoxia

Eight members of the American Women's Himalayan Expedition, ranging in age from 20-49, performed maximal exercise on a treadmill under normoxic and acute hypoxic (12.58% O2) conditions. Normoxic values for VO2 max were above average for all subjects and did not decline with age. The mean decrease in VO2 max (26.7%) during hypoxia was equivalent to that reported for younger males, which suggests that age was not a factor in response to hypoxia. Maximal heart rate, respiratory exchange ratio, oxygen pulse, and walk time were lower in hypoxia while ventilatory equivalent and blood lactate were higher. VEmax BTPS, was the same under both conditions. The combination of laboratory results and field observations by the Expedition physician suggest that women are capable of performing hard work at high altitude if they are in good condition and properly acclimatized.