What are the Health Risk of Mauna Kea?
Mauna Kea has 40% less oxygen than sea level. Mauna Kea has 40% less air pressure than sea level. This lack of vital oxygen can be a very serious problem for persons with HEART or LUNG disease. Persons that have been SCUBA diving in the last 24 hours run the risk of getting “The Bends” because of the decreased air pressure and the build up of nitrogen in their bodies. Pregnant women should not travel to Mauna Kea because of the decreased oxygen available for mother and child. We do not take children under 13 years of age to the summit because they have a much higher incidence of high altitude problems. In addition persons whom are obese (Body mass index of 40 or over) BMI calculator should not make this trip. Because of the long, bumpy road this trip might not be suitable for persons with back injury.
