Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- * Obese (BMI between 30-39.9 kg/m2)
- * Born at altitudes below 2,100 meters (\~7,000 feet)
- * Currently residing in Tallahassee, Florida or surrounding area
- * Completed a full FDA authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccination series at least 14 days before any in-person human research activity.
- * Not taking any medication(s) that interfere with oxygen delivery/transport for 4 weeks prior to and throughout the entire study (e.g., includes sedatives, sleeping aids, tranquilizers and/or any medication that depresses ventilation, diuretics, alpha and beta blockers).
- * Willing to refrain from smoking, vaping, chewing tobacco, and dietary supplement use throughout the entire study.
- * Willing to have a hypoxic tent set-up in their home and spend 8 consecutive hours per night in the tent for 8 weeks
- * Lives with a family member, partner/spouse, or roommate who can hear and respond in the unlikely event that the blood oxygen, air oxygen, or air carbon dioxide monitoring alarm would sound.
Exclusion Criteria:
- * Living in areas that are more than 1,200 m (\~4,000 feet), or have traveled to areas that are more than 1,200 m for five days or more within the last 2 months
- * Individuals who have not completed a full FDA authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccination series at least 14 days before any in-person human research activity.
- * Cardiovascular abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders, or any condition that interferes with oxygen delivery/transport (e.g., kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, etc.)
- * Oxygen saturation \< 95% while awake or oxygen saturation dips below 88% for a total of ≥ 10 min overnight in normoxic conditions
- * Evidence of apnea or other sleeping disorders
- * Evidence of prior high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) or high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) diagnosis
- * Diagnosis or family history of sickle cell anemia/trait
- * Hematocrit \<42% for males, \<36% for females
- * Hemoglobin \<13 g/dL for males, \<12 g/dL for females
- * Blood donation within 8 weeks of beginning the study
- * Present condition of alcoholism, anabolic steroids, or other substance abuse issues
- * Women who are pregnant, lactating, planning to become pregnant, or who have had an irregular menstrual cycle in the past 6 mo.
- * Weight gain or loss \> 10% of body weight during the past 6 months
- * Adults unable to consent
Ages Eligible for Study:
22 Years to 65 Years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
Sexes Eligible for Study: ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Yes