What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated how acute exercise performed under increased atmospheric pressure affects blood clotting and stress hormone levels in healthy young men.
What They Found
Researchers found that exercising to exhaustion at 3 atmospheres absolute (ATA) in a hyperbaric chamber led to similar increases in blood clotting factors (like fibrinolytic activity and Factor VIII) and stress hormones as exercising at normal pressure (1 ATA) in 20 healthy men. There were no changes in other clotting factors such as plasminogen or antithrombin III, whether exercising at 1 ATA or 3 ATA. The study concluded that exercising at 3 ATA for up to 30 minutes does not negatively affect the body's blood clotting system.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This study's findings are limited by its focus solely on healthy young males and its small comparison group, meaning the results may not apply to women, older individuals, or those with existing health conditions.