Alexander Patrician, Christopher Gasho, Boris Spajić, Hannah G Caldwell, Darija Baković-Kramaric, Otto Barak, Ivan Drviš, Željko Dujić, Philip N Ainslie
In this case study, we evaluate the unique physiological profiles of two world-champion breath-hold divers. At close to current world-record depths, the extreme physiological responses to both exercise and asphyxia during progressive elevations in hydrostatic pressure are profound. As such, these professional athletes must be capable of managing such stress, to maintain performing at the forefront human capacity. In both divers, pulmonary function before and after deep dives to 102 m and 117 m in the open sea was assessed using noninvasive pulmonary gas exchange (indexed via the O2 deficit, which is analogous to the traditional alveolar to arterial oxygen difference), ultrasound B-line scores, airway resistance, and airway reactance...
May 1, 2021: Journal of Applied Physiology