Oxygen Bar?

[dylan's alias]

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dylan's alias:

So the effect of high altitudes on aerobic activity is purely from the decrease in total air pressure? In that equation, would the small difference in air pressure make a huge difference?

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There is a big difference, but remember - all big differences are due to the first term in the equation. The air pressure in Denver is about 80% of the sea level. (760 - 43 - vapor pressure) x .8 = 570. O2 is still 21%, so the pressure of O2 is 119. In the lung, not all O2 is absorbed. Without going into too much detail, this would result in a partial pressure of O2 in the blood of about 60, where at sea level it would be about 90. Hemoglobin is only about 90% saturated at a pO2 of 60, while it is 100% at a pO2 of 90. To compensate, people at high altitudes develop higher hemoglobin concentrations.

[brinks]

I tried this in Vegas after a huge win. I still couldnt calm down after it though. I think the place was called "breathe". The tube for the O2, however, was kinda uncomfortable. They sat us in massage chairs, which was cool.

[kibble420]

Are you allowed to smoke in an oxygen bar?

Yes, ISSCKM.

[brinks]

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Are you allowed to smoke in an oxygen bar?

Yes, ISSCKM.

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That was the first thing i asked upon entering... negative.

[KidLifeCrisis]

I always considered the people I see at these things suckers.

[Sponger.]

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If you are a normal, healthy human, then your red blood cell oxygen saturation is above 98% pretty much all the time. This is the % of your hemoglobin which is carrying oxygen, and cannot be increased by increasing the percentage of oxygen inhaled. There is a miniscule amount of oxygen dissolved in your blood plasma, which can be increased by increasing oxygen concentration in inhaled air. However, the stress is on MINISCULE. Oxygen bars are complete [censored].

Math:

Oxygen carrying content formula:

(Hb x 1.54 x O2 sat) + PAO2 x 0.003

hemoglobin (grams/dl) x 1.54 (constant) x saturation + partal pressure of oxygen in inspired air x 0.003

For an average person, we'll use Hb of 15, O2 sat of 100% and room air is 21% O2 (760 x 0.21 = 150 torr)

(15 x 1.54 x 1) + (150 x 0.003)
23.1 + 0.45 = 23.55

If the same person breathed in 100% O2, the result would be:
(15 x 1.54 x 1) + (760 x 0.003)
23.1 + 2.28 = 25.38

This may seem like a significant difference (about 10%), but in an oxygen bar, there is no way they would deliver 100% O2 - it is way too expensive and would require a full face mask, not nasal prongs. I would assume that about 2 liters/minute is what you could get at a bar. that would increase the oxygen concentration from 21% to about 27%.

Final calculation:

(15 x 1.54 x 1) + (760 x 0.27) x 0.003 =

23.1 + 0.62 = 23.72


If you want to go to the oxygen bar, have a good time. Don't delude yourself about any possible health benefits.

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Damn I was just going to make an almost identical post with math and everything but it looks like you beat me to it.