I wonder if they’ve ever done a study on the lifespan effects of a Mt. Everest climb.
Low oxygen, extreme cold, and extreme physical stress would most likely do irreparable damage to the heart and lungs, as well as the brain; possibly shortening the life of the person that “survived” the climb.
Then again, I can see the point in such an act in any case.
Thank god I didn’t climb Everest.
When I was young and dumb I set my mind to climbing Everest right after graduating High School to prove my undying love for some girl in my class.
That plan flew out of the window when I went to college and discovered that there were hotter girls out there who were easily impressed with a bottle of Jack and loud music.
Brain swelling from any cause is very serious. About 2 years ago I had swelling as a result of hyponatremia (Low sodium blood level) and the case was complected by a to rapid increase of my sodium level at the hospital that ALSO caused swelling. I was in a very screwed up neurological position for over a year.
Out of hospital my sister had to hand feed me ground up food because of the tremors and difficulty swallowing.
I suspect the swelling is more due to the inflated egos of those who try to climb Mt. Everest.
Also, a brain swelling condition occurs to many who move to D.C. and serve more than 2 terms in congress!
If altitude and cold can cause "brain swelling" and death, then what was the life span of 8th Air Force crews who flew 25 (or more) missions over Europe in WW II?
They regularly flew at 30,000 ft or more in non-pressurized aircraft -- and were often exposed to Everest-like conditions two-or-three-times-a-week.