Response to Submaximal and Maximal Exercise at Different Levels of Carboxyhemoglobin

Five subjects performed submaximal and maximal bicycle and maximal treadmill exercise in normalcy and after carbon monoxide inhalation, giving different levels of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) in the blood. During maximal treadmill exercise work time on a fixed work load and maximal oxygen uptake were decreased with increasing level of COHb (r = 0.79 and r = 0.85, respectively). Peak blood lactate concentration and pulmonary ventilation were unchanged. Highest measured heart rate was lower in parallell with the increased COHb level compared to control studies. During submaximal work heart rate was increased and oxygen uptake was unchanged at the various levels of COHb. At low submaximal work loads blood lactate concentrations and oxygen deficit was unchanged but increased as work load and COHb-level increased.