Effect of Acute Hypoxia on RIght VEntRicular Function in Healthy Adults.

Summary

More and more people are engaging in sports in the mountains, including individuals with heart or lung diseases. At the same time, such diseases are becoming more common in Switzerland. At high altitude, less oxygen is available, which places stress on the body-particularly on the heart, which has to pump blood through the lungs. How the healthy heart, especially the right ventricle, responds to this stress is still not well understood. Therefore, this study investigates how the heart responds to simulated altitudes of 2,500 m and 4,000 m, both at rest and during light physical activity. The present investigation focuses on healthy individuals in order to establish a reference for future comparisons with patients suffering from cardiopulmonary diseases. The primary objective is to assess how right ventricular function changes under conditions of reduced oxygen availability. In addition, vital signs, changes in blood gases, oxygen levels in blood and tissue and shortness of breath are assessed. The "altitude" is simulated using a special gas mixture that participants inhale. Healthy participants undergo three altitude conditions (490, 2,500, and 4,000 m above sea level). The order of the altitude conditions is assigned at random. The aim is to better understand how the right ventricle and other parameters respond to low-oxygen conditions and how affected patients can be better supported in the future.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

* Signed informed consent
* 18-80 years (age group young: 18-39.99 years / age group older: 40-80 years)
* All sex and genders -Living \<800m and without altitude exposure \> 2500 m and \> 24h within the last three weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

* \<18, \>80 years old -Any diagnosed cardiopulmonary condition including past HAPE
* Other clinically significant severe concomitant disease states (e.g. renal, hepatic dysfunction, etc.)
* Inability to follow the procedures of the study due to language problems, psychological neurological disorders or orthopaedic disorders
* Participants permanently living \>800m and altitude exposure \> 2500 m and \>24h within the last three weeks
* Pregnancy: Participants will be asked if pregnant or not, no screening for undetected pregnancy
* Lactating women -Participation in other study with active treatment

Conditions5

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