Everest On TV: Doctors In The Death Zone

BBC 2 will be airing the second part of Doctors in the Death Zone - an examination of the world's highest medical research trip, to the summit of Everest - this Sunday 30th September.

The programme follows a team of medics as they set a new world record for the highest exercise bike ride and strip down to short-sleeved T-shirts in sub-zero temperatures to measure their blood pressure, not to mention the minor matter of summiting the big E.

On a more serious note, the results from the world's highest research laboratory, at over 8000m, are hoped to improve future treatment of patients in intensive care, blue babies, and sufferers of diseases such as bronchitis and cystic fibrosis. By measuring the way that different people's bodies adapt to low oxygen levels, the team hopes to shed light on medical conditions in which oxygen deprivation is a problem.

Other areas of research included sleep-deprivation at altitude and rapid weight loss, with one expedition member losing as much as 20kg of his body weight in the course of the expedition. That's a lot of bowls of past 'n' sauce!

The team are now analysing their results back in the UK and aim to publish them towards the end of next year. Watch this space.

In the meantime, follow the full story on BBC 2 at 8pm this Sunday.

Full story and photos on the BBC website.