Effects of hyperbaric oxygen pretreatment on human labor ability under acute hypoxia exposure

Objective To study the effects of hyperbaric oxygen( HBO) pretreatment on human labor ability under acute hypoxia exposure. Methods Eight male adult volunteers participated this research. The physiological parameters were tested respectively when they were at sea level,4000 meters acute exposure in low pressure chamber before /after physical load. All subjects underwent stepping-stool exercise for physical load. Heart Rate( HR) and Oxygen Saturation( SaO2) were tested before and after the exercise. The blood to test ratio of the Superoxide Dismutase activity( SOD) and Blood Lactic acid content( BLA) were also collected. Results 1Compared with the sea level group,the SaO2 decreased significantly before physical load at 4 000 meters( P 0. 01),and the BLA content increased significantly( P 0. 05). The HR showed increasing tendency compared with the sea level,while the SOD activity and work efficiency had declining tendency. 2After 4 000 meters physical load,the BLA content increased significantly( P 0. 05). The SaO2 decreased significantly( P 0. 01); meanwhile the HR had increasing tendency compared with the sea level. The SOD activity and work efficiency had declining tendency. The BLA content of 7 days HBO pretreatment after physical load decreased significantly( P 0. 05). The work efficiency of 3 days HBO pretreatment after physical load increased significantly( P 0. 05). Compared with the sea level,the HR had declining tendency,the SOD activity and work efficiency showed increasing tendency. Conclusion The HBO pretreatment could improve the SaO2 and increase the blood oxygen partial pressure. This treatment also could eliminate the LA in human body. And this method can made the body fatigue decreased or disappeared. When HBO was used from low altitude to high altitude acute exposure. This treatment could effectively improve the body adaptation velocity to hypoxia environment so as to reduce the incidence of acute mountain sickness( AMS).