Frc at altitude, increase risk of Squeeze?

[DerekB]

Hello, I am "apnea specialist" with Cirque Du Soleil. Currently we are in Bogota, with an elevation of 2,640meters ( 8,660ft) . Normally all my warm ups are done with a FRC at the bottom of my aquarium (1.8m).

I'm curious if, because of the air pressure is different, if this will effect the gas exchange in my lungs, and possibly increase the risk of lung squeeze or alveoli collapse?

Besides that and difficult breath holds are there any other risks to elevation?

Thank you

Derek

 

[cdavis]

Could be wrong, but I don't think the altitude will affect frc much in a 1.8m pool. A much bigger problem is low 02 content at altitude. Unless your body is used to it, there should be a significant increase in the BO possibility.

 

[DerekB]

Been here in Bogota for 2 weeks now... and breath holds are only getting more difficult! It seems that recovery between dives is taking longer. After every act I feel more and more lethargic. I have so many questions about doing repetitive breath holds every day at altitude.

 

[Nathan Vinski]

repetitive breath holds every day at any altitude could result in an overtraining of the body.

One of the most recognizable symptoms of overtraining is that performing the same task is getting harder and harder, instead of easier like it would with appropriate training. The lethargic feeling is also textbook symptoms of fatigue that would hit from the strain put on the nervous system by performing many breath holds, every day, especially at altitude when you would be starting in a more hypoxic state.