What we do
Safeguarding alpinists during high altitude ascents and under extreme conditions is the ultimate goal of Noble Breath. Using a sophisticated and unique medical treatment we can help mountaineers to adopt to high altitude faster and easier than employing conventional methods.
Our approach consists of a single and short inhalational therapy of a special gas mixture containing the noble gas xenon which is well tolerated. Xenon has been used medically since more than 50 years.
Why we do it
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a common condition seen in mountaineers who don’t have enough time to adjust to the lower oxygen availability in upper levels of the atmosphere. Typical symptoms are headache, loss of appetite and dizziness but can also include coughing and a general feeling of being sick. The prevalence of AMS can reach 50% in individuals who ascend to more than 4500 m within a short period. Commonly used methods to avoid the condition is to slowly adjust to higher altitude. However, this process may take at least several days. For very high altitudes e.g. Kilimanjaro, the Andes or the Himalayas it is recommended to adjust over a period of several weeks. Another method is the so called hypoxic training. Here, individuals increase their endurance at sea level by mimicking altitude using a variety of devices. However, this process is cumbersome and protracted. Using the Noble Breath method we are able to significantly change the way to prepare for high altitude using a brief inhalation of the noble gas xenon.
How it works
Although xenon is chemically inert it has a variety of biological actions which have been well studied in the last decades. In high concentrations xenon has hypnotic/anesthetic effects and have led to its legislation as anesthetic agent in Europe in the early 2000s. A widespread use has been limited due to the enormous costs which are explained by the rarity of the gas. Further research to use xenon as organprotective agent are still ongoing. Xenon has been applied to thousands of patients with almost no side effects. Only recently it has been discovered that xenon promotes hemoglobin synthesis by a release of endogenous erythropoietin. We have explored the use of an ideal xenon gas mixture in mountaineers and found significant improvement in their endurance and acclimatization. This approach may augment or even replace the use of hypoxic training. Our treatment has a proven track record on several high altitude expeditions in the Himalays and the Andes and has been successfully used multiple times as pre-accclimatization to climb Mount Everest in record time of only 7 days.
How it’s done
Approximately 2 weeks prior to the planned ascent the special xenon gas mixture is delivered by a specific ventilator via a tight face mask under the supervision of a very experienced physician. The gas mixture during inhalation is permanently monitored and the whole treatment lasts less than one hour. To maximize the effect and to limit the costs a specialized ventilator is used to deliver the gas to the spontaneously breathing individuals. The treatment is well tolerated. You might experience a feeling of dizziness or being drunk. In rare cases nausea and vomiting can occur. These sensations disappear within minutes after stopping the xenon inhalation. During the procedure you are monitored closely with electrocardiogram, blood pressure measurements and pulse oxymetry.
Who we are
Lukas Furtenbach
A pioneering mountaineer and expedition operator. He has a longstanding track record in the field of planning and organizing expeditions to high altitude and especially to the Himalaya.
He is focused on reducing time to reach a summit while maximizing safety and pioneered the field of pre-acclimatization for commercial expeditions.
Michael Fries
A physician-scientist who works in the medical field for more than 20 years. His interest in Xenon mediated effects in anesthesia and critical care began early and is documented by numerous publications.
He currently serves as the head of the department of anesthesia and intensive care at St. Vincenz Hospital in Limburg/Germany.
