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Control of breathing in Sherpas at low and high altitude.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hackett, PH; Reeves, JT; Reeves, CD; Grover, RF; Rennie, D
Published in: Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology
September 1980

Sherpas are well known for their physical performance at extreme altitudes, yet they are reported to have blunted ventilatory responses to acute hypoxia and relative hypoventilation in chronic hypoxia. To examine this paradox, we studied ventilatory control in Sherpas in comparison to that in Westerners at both low and high altitude. At low altitude, 25 Sherpas had higher minute ventilation, higher respiratory frequency, and lower end-tidal carbon dioxide tension than 25 Westerners. The hypoxic ventilatory response of Sherpas was found to be similar to that in Westerners, even though long altitude exposure had blunted the responses of some Sherpas. At high altitude, Sherpas again had higher minute ventilation and a tendency toward higher arterial oxygen saturation than Westerners. Oxygen administration increased ventilation further in Sherpas but decreased ventilation in Westerners. We conclude that Sherpas differ from other high-altitude natives; their hypoxic ventilatory response is not blunted, and they exhibit relative hyperventilation.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology

DOI

ISSN

0161-7567

Publication Date

September 1980

Volume

49

Issue

3

Start / End Page

374 / 379

Related Subject Headings

  • White People
  • Respiration
  • Physiology
  • Nepal
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Asian People
  • Altitude
  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • 42 Health sciences
 

Citation

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Hackett, P. H., Reeves, J. T., Reeves, C. D., Grover, R. F., & Rennie, D. (1980). Control of breathing in Sherpas at low and high altitude. Journal of Applied Physiology: Respiratory, Environmental and Exercise Physiology, 49(3), 374–379. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1980.49.3.374
Hackett, P. H., J. T. Reeves, C. D. Reeves, R. F. Grover, and D. Rennie. “Control of breathing in Sherpas at low and high altitude.Journal of Applied Physiology: Respiratory, Environmental and Exercise Physiology 49, no. 3 (September 1980): 374–79. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1980.49.3.374.
Hackett PH, Reeves JT, Reeves CD, Grover RF, Rennie D. Control of breathing in Sherpas at low and high altitude. Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology. 1980 Sep;49(3):374–9.
Hackett, P. H., et al. “Control of breathing in Sherpas at low and high altitude.Journal of Applied Physiology: Respiratory, Environmental and Exercise Physiology, vol. 49, no. 3, Sept. 1980, pp. 374–79. Epmc, doi:10.1152/jappl.1980.49.3.374.
Hackett PH, Reeves JT, Reeves CD, Grover RF, Rennie D. Control of breathing in Sherpas at low and high altitude. Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology. 1980 Sep;49(3):374–379.

Published In

Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology

DOI

ISSN

0161-7567

Publication Date

September 1980

Volume

49

Issue

3

Start / End Page

374 / 379

Related Subject Headings

  • White People
  • Respiration
  • Physiology
  • Nepal
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Asian People
  • Altitude
  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • 42 Health sciences