Introduction
As much as traveling to high altitudes brings life time experience of unique site seeing and adventures, they bring about potential health risks that can lead to a medical emergency. As the person ascends high, the body loses is capability to adapt to such extreme changes in the atmosphere.
A high altitude is defined as a place above sea level, such as 1500 meters or 5000 feet.
Hypoxia is lack of oxygen reaching the tissues of the body.
The Physiological Impact of High Altitude
At high altitudes, the atmospheric pressure decreases, in simple words, the air is “thinner” because the atmosphere is less dense. This means there is less air pressure pushing down on everything, including the oxygen in the air. Even though the amount of oxygen in the air remains constant, reduced air pressure makes it more difficult for your body to receive enough oxygen from each breath, resulting in less oxygen being absorbed into the bloodstream to meet our body’s tissue demands. As a result, at high elevations, your body receives less oxygen than at lower altitudes, making it more difficult to breathe and operate normally.
If adequate time is given for the body to adjust, a process known as acclimatization. Then negative impact can be avoided.
When the body is exposed to high altitude, several physiological changes occur:
Increased Breathing Rate: The body experiences hyperventilation, or increased breathing, to make up for the decreased oxygen levels. In addition to increasing oxygen intake, this may result in a drop in carbon dioxide levels and symptoms such as tingling or vertigo.
Elevated Heart Rate: To more effectively supply oxygen to tissues and organs, the heart beats more quickly.
Red Blood Cell Production: In order to carry more oxygen, the body gradually makes additional red blood cells, although it can take days or weeks for this process to be completed.
Although the body uses these adjustments to adjust to the stress of high altitude, they are not always enough to stop health issues.