Exercise Physiology: Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance 9th Edition by Scott Powers, Edward Howley

Exercise 7

It was formerly believed that a person could not climb Mount Everest without oxygen because the estimated  max at altitude was close to basal metabolic rate. When two climbers accomplished the feat in 1978, scientists had to determine how this was possible. What were the primary reasons allowing the climb to take place without oxygen?

Step 1 of 2

Hemoglobin saturation depends on several factors like PO₂, PCO₂, and pH. When the PCO₂ is low and pH is high, the condition favors saturation of hemoglobin more than that under normal conditions. If a person takes deep breath and inhales more volume of air under hypoxic conditions, he/she exhales more CO₂ which elevates the blood pH. This increases the arterial PO₂ and oxygen saturation.