4-KM Altitude Effects on Performance and Health

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Abstract
The research literature on high-altitude physiology and medicine is reviewed. High-altitude effects on performance are often larger than recognized either by its victims or their colleagues at the same altitude. At 4000 meters most unacclimatized people will lose very roughly 20% of their sea level abilities, and some loss may persist after moderate acclimatization. At least half the people with no acclimatization will suffer some sickness starting a few hours after ascent and lasting a few days. Between 0.1% and 1% of the individuals going to 4000 meters altitude will suffer serious illness at some time, and that illness may become life threatening if the victim does not descend. The anecdotal reports of astronomers working at high altitude are discussed, and reasons for their variation are suggested. It is concluded that the problem is larger than sometimes recognized, and preliminary engineering costs are given for some solutions.

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