American Physiological Society, American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 5(319), p. H980-H994, 2020
DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00597.2020
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Using a normoxic crossover study design, we examined the impact of hypobaric hypoxia (4 days; altitude equivalent, 3,500 m) and hemoconcentration on blood viscosity, shear stress, and endothelial function. Blood viscosity increased during the hypoxic exposure and was accompanied by elevated resting and exercising arterial shear stress. Flow-mediated dilation stimulated by reactive hyperemia and handgrip exercise was preserved throughout the hypoxic exposure. Plasma volume expansion reversed the hypoxia-associated hemoconcentration and selectively increased handgrip exercise flow-mediated dilation.