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AltoLab is a cheap and effective way of [[Altitude Training]]. It uses a chemical (soda lime) to remove the CO<SUB>2</SUB> from your exhaled breath, allowing you to rebreathe the air that now has lower O<SUB>2</SUB>. I have replaced my AltoLab with a [[DIY Altitude Training]] system that is cheaper and works better than the AltoLab system. {{DISPLAYTITLE:AltoLab, A cheap altitude training Altitude Training system}}

The AltoLab consists of a breathing [[Breathing]] tube and lid, a cylinder of CO<SUB>2</SUB> absorbent (Hypoxic Silo) and a series of tubes filled with foam cylinders that hold your exhaled breath for you to re-breathe (mixers). Each mixer is supposed to be around 5,000 feet of altitude, though this obviously varies a lot.

So far, I've used the AltoLab system for several bouts of training. The manual recommends using the system for 15 daily sessions, but I've found that I get better results from continued usage. I've found that training with AltoLab makes a difference to my performance both at altitude and at low levels. The training effect seems to build slowly, so it's not an obvious, dramatic change. However, I believe that the effect may compound over time, as the benefits of altitude training [[Altitude Training]] make me faster, which in turn allows for harder training as well as improved race performance.

* The manual suggests starting with 2 mixers, which should give a blood O<SUB>2</SUB> saturation of 90%. Mine dropped to below 80%, which may be part of the reason I do so badly at altitude. By the fifth session I found my breathing [[Breathing]] pattern changed, and my saturation did not drop as far.

* The downside to using the AltoLab is probably similar to other altitude training [[Altitude Training]] systems; being in a low O₂ environment is unpleasant. I find myself struggling to perform the training sessions as the feeling of asphyxiation was off putting.

* For the first couple of bouts of AltoLab training, the initial sessions seemed to leave me a little weakened and slower than normal. I also found that the altitude training [[Altitude Training]] tended to give me a headache that would come back periodically. * I found there is quite a bit of lag in using AltoLab. When you start breathing [[Breathing]] through the AltoLab, it will take a couple of minutes before your O₂ saturation drops, and when you have the rest period, it can also take a minute or more before your O₂ saturation returns to near normal. However, I also found that the feeling of low O₂ saturation seemed to lag even further behind the reading from the [[Pulse Oximeter]]. My assumption is that the O₂ saturation of your blood can change, but the tissues your blood is supplying will take time to change to match the O₂ saturation of your blood. The practical implication is that my blood O₂ saturation could drop to 65% quickly and I would feel more or less okay for a short time. Once my blood O₂ saturation had been low for a minute or so, the impact would kick in and I'd start to feel light headed. Likewise, when I had a rest period, my blood O₂ saturation would rise to normal but my head would still be feeling the effects.

Overall, I think the AltoLab is a cost effective and useful way of training for high altitude conditions, and possibly for improvements at sea level. I suspect that the downsides of using other intermittent systems will be similar to AltoLab. From what I understand from other people who've slept in altitude tents, there are different, but equally significant downsides to that approach, including poor [[Zeo Sleep Monitor|sleep ]] quality.

** I ordered 'JorVet J-553 Soda Lime', produced by Jorgensen Laboratories. I got mine from shopmedvet.com, and they tend to change their URLs so you may have to search for 'soda lime' on their site. As of 6/22/11 the link http://www.shopmedvet.com/product/soda-lime-3-lb-bag/jorgensen-products-anesthesia-products worked. I'm told that the original CO<SUB>2</SUB> scrubber in the AltoLab system is Spherasorb 405.** There are some newer CO2 scrubbers available, such as Amsorb plus that have a permanent color change. I have not tried these, but they are available on line at [https://www.surgicaltools.com/36098/amsorb-plus-co2-absorbent-pre-pack-for-ge-aespire-avance-and-aisys-anesthesia-machines/amsorb-plus-co2-absorbent surgical tools], and [https://secure.hullanesthesia.com/p/967/Amsorb-Plus-CO2-Absorbent---CAN-CAN---800-Gram-Cartridge Hull Anesthesia]. There is an interesting write up at http://www.armstrongmedical.net/absorbent/amsorb-plus/amsorb-plus * After some time, I ordered extra anti-bacterial filters, which cost less than $5 from a medical supplier. I got mine from [[http://www.allegromedical.com/respiratory-therapy-c534/main-flow-bacterial-viral-filter-p547468.html Allegro Medical]]

* The breathing [[Breathing]] kit for $89

* The scrubber does not die quickly or obviously; I find my blood O<SUB>2</SUB> saturation not dropping as far each time, but the biggest indicator is that I'm struggling to breathe. This is because the CO<SUB>2</SUB> is building up in the blood and causing deeper breathing[[Breathing]]. Swapping to a new scrubber returned to the original behavior.

Looking at the parts for the AltoLab, it seems possible to construct one out of PVC piping, some foam, CPAP tube, etc., but this may require some effort to find the right parts. Given that the AltoLab system is only the cost of a couple of pairs of good running shoes[[Shoes]], it does not seem worth the effort. ==Optional Oxygen Sensor==I added an oxygen sensor to my AltoLab set up to make it easier to control my [[SpO2|SpO₂]] levels. I chose the [http://oxycheq.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_5&products_id=6 OxyCheq Expedition-X Oxygen Analyzer] because it has a separate replaceable sensor and a remote display, and the price was reasonable ($250 at [http://www.higherpeak.com/accessories.html Higher Peak], the cheapest place I've found it). I've found that knowing the oxygen level I'm [[Breathing]] gives me the finer control of how hypoxic I am as the [[Pulse Oximeter]] alone has a significant delay. If you start [[Breathing]] air with more or less oxygen it will sometimes take over a minute for this to affect the circulating blood in your fingertip that the [[Pulse Oximeter]] is monitoring. This delay makes it tricky to stay in the right [[SpO2|SpO₂]] range. With the O₂ sensor I can see how the depth of my [[Breathing]] is affecting the oxygen level, and combined with the [[Pulse Oximeter]] I'm able to get a much more effective hypoxic exposure. The diagram to the right shows my current configuration:* I generally use six of the black foam filled mixers.* Attached to the black mixer is the green CO₂ scrubber, the end cap and the original hose. * Next the O2 sensor is attached to a blue "T" adapter. This is connected by a wire to the display unit. These sensors have an expected life of about two years, so it's handy for them to be easily replaceable. * Finally there is the viral filter, the optional expandable swivel tube and the mouthpiece. The cost of the Oxygen Sensor more than doubles the cost of the overall system, but this was worthwhile to me as I use the system on a regular basis. I would not recommend getting an Oxygen Sensor until you know how you get on with basic setup, but I've found it much easier to control my [[SpO2|SpO₂]] than using the [[Pulse Oximeter]] alone. {| class="wikitable" |- valign="top"|[[File:Altolab with OxyCheq.jpg|none|thumb|x300px|My AltoLab system with the OxyCheq O₂ sensor attached.]]|[[File:OxyCheq.jpg|none|thumb|x300px|The OxyCheq Expedition-X Oxygen Analyzer.]]|} 

* [[The Science of Altitude Training 101]]

* [[Intermittent Hypoxic Exposure]] and [[The Science of Intermittent Hypoxic Exposure 101]]