Commuting to High Altitude: Value of Oxygen Enrichment of Room Air

Abstract

Increasingly, lowlanders are commuting to high altitude for commercial, scientific, or defense reasons. Oxygen enrichment of room air at high altitude is a simple but highly effective way of improving sleep quality, mental performance, work efficiency, and general well-being. This review summarizes some of the practical aspects of providing oxygen enrichment including room construction, oxygen concentrators, ventilation levels, costs, use of liquid oxygen, fire hazard, and safe upper limits for oxygen enrichment. The physiological and medical effects of oxygen enrichment are discussed under the headings of sleep, neuropsychological function, and general well-being, productivity, and fatigue. Oxygen enrichment of room air can play a major role in improving living and working conditions for commuters to high altitude.