Two extreme mountaineers are currently undertaking a somewhat different type of mountain tour at DLR in Cologne: although they will not leave the aerospace medical research facility :envihab, they will nevertheless reach 7000 metres in altitude over the next few weeks - in the pressure and atmosphere chamber of the Institute of Aerospace Medicine. This scientific "expedition" deals with the question of whether human heart function can be positively influenced in an oxygen-reduced environment.
This change in environment is made possible by the supply of nitrogen; the adaptation is slowly increased until the oxygen concentration is reduced to eight percent and thus corresponds to an environment at 7000 altitude meters. However, the air pressure remains constant, so that an immediate "descent" would also be possible in the event of complications.
After extensive preliminary examinations and acclimatisation in the real mountain world in the days before moving into the :envihab, the two mountaineers are now busy for the next few weeks with examinations, tests and a variety of sports options such as cycling, climbing on a climbing wall and running on a treadmill. The two test persons serve science with this expedition and are pleased that they may be able to contribute to new findings in the field of heart research.
For more information: DLR erforscht mit Profibergsteigern Sauerstoffmangel als Therapiekonzept für Herzpatienten