Study on the Changes of Physical Status Under the Condition of Lacking Food and Water on Oxygen-Deficient Plateau

Abstract

Objective to study the changes of physical status under the condition of lacking food and water on oxygen-deficient plateau. Methods 2 volunteers survived for 72 h with little water, pilot biscuit and emergency oxygen supply on the high altitude plateau by themselves, using sleeping bags and chemical heating bags to keep out the cold at night. The volunteers were asked not to eat biscuit, drink water and use oxygen unless extremely needed, and the amount of biscuit and water the volunteer took were recorded. The volunteers survived at 5237 m altitude for 18 h first, and then walked down to 4742 m altitude and survived for 54 h continuously. The body composition indexes and physiological parameters were monitored. Results Under the condition of lacking food and water on oxygen-deficient plateau for 72 h, the physical status of the 2 volunteers changed to be feeble, but they could walk and do some light work normally. Their lips were dry and cracked, but no serious changes occurred except fever. The total amounts of biscuit and water were 60 g and 650 ml for one volunteer, and 94 g and 950 ml for the other. For both volunteers, the fat percentage declined, while the muscle percentage rose in the whole survival time. Their body temperatures rose in the second day, and the heart rates and blood pressures did the same in the second and the third days. The oxygen saturations declined significantly after 6 h and recovered after 2 days for one volunteer, while declined slightly in the all 3 days for the other. Conclusion The human physical status would decline under the condition of lacking food and water on oxygen-deficient plateau which was higher than 4700 m. With a little emergency oxygen supply and not much more activities, young people could still sustain for 72 h without serious states.