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. 2025 Mar;5(1):1.
doi: 10.3390/oxygen5010001. Epub 2025 Jan 13.

Pain Perception Threshold in Young High-Altitude Natives After Acute Exposure to Severe Hypoxic Conditions

Kely Melina Vilca-Coaquira  1   2 , Angel Gabriel Calisaya-Huacasi  1   2 , Jeancarlo Tejada-Flores  1   2 , Henry Oscar Tintaya-Ramos  1   2 , Mariela Mercedes Quispe-Trujillo  1   2 , Solanyela Anny Quispe-Humpiri  1   2 , Rossela Alejandra Rojas-Chambilla  1   2 , Gilberto Félix Peña-Vicuña  1 , Alberto Salazar Granara  3 , Luis F Lens Sardón  3 , Alcides Flores-Paredes  4 , Moua Yang  5   6 , Ginés Viscor  7 , Ivan Hancco Zirena  3   8
Affiliations

Pain Perception Threshold in Young High-Altitude Natives After Acute Exposure to Severe Hypoxic Conditions

Kely Melina Vilca-Coaquira et al. Oxygen (Basel). 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Previous studies indicate that individuals at high altitudes have a lower pain threshold than those living at sea level. This study evaluates the differences in pain perception among young people living at an altitude of 3800 m and after acute exposure to a severe hypoxic environment at more than 5100 m. Fourteen people (BMI of 22.6 ± 1.2 and age of 23.3 ± 1.9 years) residing in the city of Puno (3825 m) participated in an ascent to the Populated Center of La Rinconada (>5100 m). The unilateral ischemia pain provocation test was used, applying pressure with a manual sphygmomanometer to generate transient ischemia in the arm while the patient opens and closes their hand. Onset, peak, and resolution times of pain, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were recorded. At their residence altitude of 3828 m, the mean hemoglobin was 16.16 ± 2.29, while at 5100 m, mean hemoglobin increased to 17.57 ± 1.74. The average time to pain onset in the right arm was 30.43 s ± 14.15 at 3828 m, whereas at 5100 m above sea level, the pain perception was at 31.00 s ± 19.01. At 3828 m, the average time until pain sensation in the left arm was 19.93 s ± 9.44 and increased to 23.07 s ± 10.83 at 5100 m. During exposure to a severe hypoxic environment, the pain perception threshold was similar between 3828 m and 5100 m above sea level.

Keywords: hypoxia; ischemic pain; pain threshold; pain tolerance; tourniquet test.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Changes in oxygen saturation during the pain threshold test at the two altitudes on the right and left arms. Labels for x-axis are time of first pain (1), unbearable pain (2), and no pain (3).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Heart rate changes during the pain threshold test at the two altitudes on the right and left arms. Labels for x-axis are time of first pain (1), unbearable pain (2), and no pain (3).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Individual changes in pain resolution time between the two altitudes in both arms.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Individual changes in pain exasperation time between the two altitudes in both arms.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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  • Physical Activity and Pain Perception in Residents Under Conditions of Chronic Hypoxia.
    Bernedo-Itusaca ME, Vilca-Coaquira KM, Calisaya-Huacasi ÁG, Cosi-Cupi MR, Leqque-Santi SR, Cutipa-Tinta S, Salazar-Granara A, Vanegas YM, Flores-Paredes A, Guo S, Li W, Yang M, Viscor G, Zirena IH. Bernedo-Itusaca ME, et al. Oxygen (Basel). 2025 Sep;5(3):11. doi: 10.3390/oxygen5030011. Epub 2025 Jun 30. Oxygen (Basel). 2025. PMID: 40657331 Free PMC article.

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