Abstract

29 participants from the hitherto largest German expedition to the CHO OYU (8201 m) were examined to the influence of extreme altitude environment on some chemical and physiological parameters. Furthermore, we intended to study the height adaptation of the human body by the application of a High Altitude Sickness Score System. We found that the measured increase of hemoglobin was not as marked as expected by theoretical considerations and that there was no correlation with the actually reached height. The poorer the physical strength of the climber, the more noticeable is the increase of hemoglobin. Therefore, the mountaineers were forced to approach the limit of their capacity for work. Participants of the summit group adapted better to the strains of extreme altitude environment. The catabolism was not more marked in the group who did not reach the summit. Verf.-referat