Impact of Oxygen Intervention on Heart Rate Variability and Cognitive Function among Individuals Consuming Alcohol at High Altitude

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effects of different oxygen administration methods on cognitive impairment and reduced heart rate variability (HRV) induced by alcohol consumption at high altitude. A repeated-measures experimental design was employed, recruiting healthy adult volunteers (M=60) who consumed moderate alcohol under high-altitude conditions. HRV and cognitive function assessments were conducted before, during, and after alcohol intake. Two intervention methods were applied: nasal oxygen inhalation and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.The results demonstrated that oxygen administration significantly mitigated the alcohol-induced reduction in HRV. Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in 7 out of 12 HRV parameters: Time-domain indices: MeanHR, RMSSD, SD1; Frequency-domain indices: LF, HF, VLF, TP. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy showed pronounced efficacy in improving MeanHR, LF, HF, and TP, while nasal oxygen exhibited greater effects on SD1, RMSSD, and VLF. Among the four cognitive function indicators, two indicators with significant oxygen intervention effects were identified: executive control function and inhibitory control function. Hyperbaric oxygen intervention demonstrated significant improvement in executive control function, while nasal oxygen inhalation showed pronounced effects on inhibitory control function. These results indicate that oxygen therapy significantly ameliorated the reduction in heart rate variability and cognitive impairment induced by the combined effects of high-altitude exposure and alcohol intake.