As avid hiker, skier, and peakbagger it is hard for me to really tell the difference between the air at 5000' where my house is and 10,000'-12,500'+ peaks in the mountains just outside of town where I spend a lot of my weekends. This leads me to believe that the effect isn't linear. That there likely be a bigger effect going from sea level to say 5000' than 5000' to 12,000'. I have been up above 14,000' a handful of times and even then it is hard to judge because by the time I have gotten that high up I had already been hiking with gear for the majority of some 10 hours and thus would be kind of tired regardless.
Viagara for healthy 20 year old men? Please, tell us more :)
Just got back from skiing at 12,800 feet and sleeping at 10,000 feet. Not easy. Could hardly breathe sleeping let alone walking. Running is almost inconceivable. But, did spend a few months in Quito, altitude 9,350 feet and regularly jogged up and down hills and around the city's central park.
I traveled in Bolivia a few years ago and well remember the altitude sickness I suffered in the Altiplano when I made the jump from 10,000 feet to 14,000 feet. Walking up a flight of stairs in La Paz or Potosi left me out of breath. I can't imagine how painful it would be to play 90 minutes of soccer there without acclimatization.
But I can calculate it. Barometric pressure at the La Paz stadium is about 65% what it is at sea level. That means that oxygen density is 65% of what it is at sea level. In other words, in La Paz one needs to take three breaths to get the same oxygen one would get in two breaths in Buenos Aires.
But I can calculate it. Barometric pressure at the La Paz stadium is about 65% what it is at sea level. That means that oxygen density is 65% of what it is at sea level. In other words, in La Paz one needs to take three breaths to get the same oxygen one would get in two breaths in Buenos Aires.
Had a wonderful vacation in Bolivia touring the Andes. Spent the first week in the 2500-3000 metre zone; the final two weeks at 3500-4000 metres. The time to acclimate meant there were no acute issues with the altitude but there was certainly no ability to run. Lovely place and people, wonderful that they can convert a hardship into a home field advantage.
Its not a whole lot different than playing in Veil (8000 ft), Breckenridge (9000) or Alma (10,000ft), skiing moguls at Loveland ski area at 13000 feet, or hiking up mountains such as Greys peak at 14000 feet. Every weekend big crowds of city people (Denver is at 5000 feet) go up there, and few have any problems.
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How are the following side effects of Viagra, if users of Viagra get some of all of them, going to help a soccer team play soccer at a high altitude? The side effects are: sudden vision loss; ringing in your ears, or sudden hearing loss; chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling; irregular heartbeat; swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet; shortness of breath; vision changes; feeling light-headed, fainting; or penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer. Less serious side effects may include: warmth or redness in your face, neck, or chest; stuffy nose; headache; memory problems; upset stomach; or back pain.
I have been to La Paz and have frequently crossed passes and climbed trekking peaks at well over 18,000 feet in the Himalayas so I am familiar with the effects of high altitude. No one lives at 18,000 feet but the people whose ancestors have lived above 11,000 or 12,000 feet for thousands of years enjoy the benefits of a significant adaption to the lack of oxygen at such altitudes. Even those without such a heritage who were born in such places or have lived there for a long time benefit from an adaption to reduced oxygen levels. Bolivia should be forced to play all its international matches at a stadium in a major city at the lowest possible altitude. Sportsmanship demands it, as their very poor record in way matches makes clear. Mexico and Ecuador also enjoy this advantage to a significant extent.
I had the privilege of going to La Paz, Bolivia, as a student missionary back in 1972. I was a 20 year-old college student and thought the altitude would not bother me. I was wrong. My first day there, my host took me on a walking tour of the city and I noticed a headache coming on. It gradually worsened as the afternoon wore on and by the time we got home, I had a severe case of altitude sickness.
It lasted about 2 or three days, but eventually I got acclimated to the point where I was able to play on a local basketball team that went by the name of Ingavi. I was in the best shape of my life at that time, walking up and down those hills in the city and playing ball at that high altitude.
I cannot imagine landing in La Paz coming from sea-level and playing a soccer game within a day or so of arriving no matter how strong or physically fit one is.
It lasted about 2 or three days, but eventually I got acclimated to the point where I was able to play on a local basketball team that went by the name of Ingavi. I was in the best shape of my life at that time, walking up and down those hills in the city and playing ball at that high altitude.
I cannot imagine landing in La Paz coming from sea-level and playing a soccer game within a day or so of arriving no matter how strong or physically fit one is.
About ten years ago, I tried to do the Ride the Rockies multi-day bike ride, close to five hundred miles in six days over mountains in Colorado. Lucky for me, I had to drop out after the third day to return home on business. I am not sure I could have taken any more punishment.
On the second day of the ride, held in late June, we were to go over an 11,000 ft. mountain pass through a national park. The days' ride was called off because the park closed due to snow. (By comparison, the professional riders at the Tour de France rarely go much over 6,000 ft. and they, too, have faced active snowfall in that race.)
The local residents, most of whom live at 5,000 ft. or above, had much less trouble with the ride. I had only three days to acclimate and I should have taken at least one week to prepare for the altitude. Most of the people from Colorado seem to be reacting as if this was just a normal ride for them.
On the first day, it was raining with about a 20 mph headwind leaving Boulder. It was a short ride that day, 68 miles. We headed up, up and up, passing the town of Ward as rain and cold resumed at the top. You know, a fun time was had by all.
If you are not fully adjusted, altitude is very difficult to take. Brutal is the word that comes to mind. The blood just can't carry enough oxygen to keep the body working properly and the mind goes on blank first. It is unimaginable to me that they would play a soccer match at 11,000+ ft.
http://terryreport.com
On the second day of the ride, held in late June, we were to go over an 11,000 ft. mountain pass through a national park. The days' ride was called off because the park closed due to snow. (By comparison, the professional riders at the Tour de France rarely go much over 6,000 ft. and they, too, have faced active snowfall in that race.)
The local residents, most of whom live at 5,000 ft. or above, had much less trouble with the ride. I had only three days to acclimate and I should have taken at least one week to prepare for the altitude. Most of the people from Colorado seem to be reacting as if this was just a normal ride for them.
On the first day, it was raining with about a 20 mph headwind leaving Boulder. It was a short ride that day, 68 miles. We headed up, up and up, passing the town of Ward as rain and cold resumed at the top. You know, a fun time was had by all.
If you are not fully adjusted, altitude is very difficult to take. Brutal is the word that comes to mind. The blood just can't carry enough oxygen to keep the body working properly and the mind goes on blank first. It is unimaginable to me that they would play a soccer match at 11,000+ ft.
http://terryreport.com
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I remember landing in La Paz wearing an altimeter watch, which displays altitude based on air pressure. The altitude reading went up, up, up as the plane descended! Because planes are pressurized to something like a 5,000' equivalent and the airport is at 12k. Your ears pop, but the "other way". It is really high there, you feel a hangover for a few days, and not just because you're hungover from the coca tea. I can't imagine playing soccer.
Since when does coca tea give one a hangover? As the article explains, it counteracts the effects of the altitude, and makes one feel less hung over than one would otherwise be.
I lived in La Paz for a year. Just running up the stairs makes it feel like your heart is going to explode in your chest. I can't even imagine playing football at that level at that altitude.
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