Performance benefits of high-altitude living
San Diego cycling coach, physician, bicycle racer and author, Arnie Baker, has been studying the effects of the Gamow bed on himself and others. British Olympic cyclist Shaun Wallace showed a 10 percent increase in hemoglobin levels over the course of two months. Baker demonstrated a 10 percent increase in only two weeks, taking a minute off of his Mt. Palomar hill climb record. Baker's hematocrit went from 43 percent to 48 percent; his blood could carry 10 percent more oxygen with each pump. Baker already has five 40km masters time-trial records and four national cycling championships, and now he's using the bed. It could be a tough season for other riders in his age group.
Studies of residents of the Andes show average hematocrit levels of 59 percent in males living at 14,800 feet, 52.2 percent at 12,000 feet, and 50.4 percent at 10,400 feet [Reynafarje et al. 1959; Winslow et al. 1987, 1989]. Himalayan residents living at similar altitudes seem to have slightly lower hematocrit concentrations [Winslow et al. 1989]. One could perhaps expect athletes living at these altitudes to have even higher values, as athletes generally show higher hematocrit concentrations and higher blood volume than the average population. After 40 days, members of a Himalayan expedition living at 14,600 feet had hematocrit concentrations of 55 per-cent [Milledge and Cotes 1985]. If someone were to normally have a hematocrit of 40 per-cent, an increase to 57 percent indicates 30 percent more red blood cells; assuming hard training at low altitude were ongoing, one could expect much higher performance! Also, some studies indicate that blood serum also increases at altitude, so the relative increase in red cells could be even higher yet, as total blood volume has increased.
Higher blood volume in itself has another benefit; a physiological
phenomenon called "Sterling's law”' says that the stretching of the circulatory
system with higher blood volume makes the heart pump harder; the "stroke
volume" on each pump is higher. The long-term benefits of high-altitude
living go beyond producing more EPO and red blood cells. After extended
exposure to hypoxia, muscles develop more blood vessels, and lungs exchange
gases more efficiently.
