An Olympic sprinter has prepared for his event at 1.7km above sea level by train

Question

An Olympic sprinter has prepared for his event at 1.7km above sea level by training for 4 weeks at this altitude. Describe the ways the body will adjust its oxygen carrying capacity and efficiency in this athlete during this training time. Describe in detail how carbon dioxide (CO2) produced in his quadriceps muscle during the race is transported in the blood and go on to describe the route from the muscle to the point where CO2 is ultimately exhaled into the atmosphere. When he has completed the 200 metre race (at sea level) you measure his blood pressure over the course of 30 minutes immediately after the race, and find that it eventually goes back to normal levels. Explain why his blood pressure would have increased and why it would return back to normal levels, go on to comment on what factors would regulate these changes.

Explanation / Answer

By taking training at this altitude, the Hemoglobin level in his body increases. This is so, because at high altitudes oxygen is less. So, to cope up with the low levels of oxygen, the body develops more Hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in blood. So, if hemoglobin is increased, then the oxygen carrying capacity of blood will also increase.

During the race, due to increased hemoglobin, adequate oxygen enters the muscles. The muscles work more to produce Carbon-di-oxide. The CO2 formed in the muscle cells (quadriceps) comes in the blood and form carboxyhemoglobin and carbonic acid (H2CO3). This carbonic acid flows via veins towards the heart. Partial pressure of CO2 increases in the veins. So, overall pressure of deoxygenated blood entering the right atrium increases. So, blood is pumped with more pressure to the lungs. Therefore, overall blood pressure increases.

Blood pressure moves to normal after some time because of increased hemoglobin, so, there are adequate levels of oxyhemoglobin molecules in the arteries to balance the increased blood pressure.

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