Mind The [Arteriovenous Oxygen Concentration] Gap
An individual’s VO2max represents the maximum integrated capacity of the pulmonary, cardiovascular, and muscular system to uptake, transport, and utilize oxygen respectively. Additionally, VO2max is calculated from the product of cardiac output and the arteriovenous oxygen concentration difference, which is expressed by the Fick equation which states the following:
VO2max = Q * [Ca-vO2], where Q is cardiac output which is calculated from the product of heart rate and stroke volume (Q = HR x SV) and Ca-vO2 is the arteriovenous oxygen concentration difference, which represents the difference in oxygen saturation between arterial and venous blood.
Given the aforementioned parameters, it becomes clear that their are two ways that one can increase their VO2max:
They can increase their cardiac output; or
They can widen the arteriovenous oxygen concentration difference.
This article will be focused on the second of these two factors. Specifically, how to increase arterial oxygen saturation (SpO…
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