Abstract
Summary
The effect of acute anoxia on the economy of effort index of Wiggers and Katz was studied on medical students by allowing them to rebreath decreasing oxygen mixtures and holding these mixtures at 14, 12 and 10% oxygen, respectively, long enough to record subclavian pulses and determine brachial blood pressures leisurely.
In 20 subjects, the index increased during rebreathing of 14 and 12% oxygen; in 12, it increased further when the oxygen percent was reduced to 10; in 8 it began to show slight signs of decreasing. Three subjects showed no significant increase or a slight decrease. The possible use of the method in testing favorable and unfavorable responses of individuals to low barometric pressures is mentioned.
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