1. High Altitude Physiology

2. Why study altitude physiology?
Learn more by studying extremes
Relate adaptations to altitude to adaptations in endurance training
Appreciate constraints within which life exists
Appreciate the extremes to which humans can push themselves
Appreciate the forces that drive organisms to occupy all possible niches

3. Altitude vs. Pressure Higher altitude – lower barometric pressure
Lower pressure – lower PO2
ALSO Lower temp
Higher wind
Dramatic changes in weather
Limited mobility (rough terrain)

6. Hypoxia (unacclimatized person)
23,000 ft (7010 meters)
Coma
18,000 ft (5486 meters)
Twitching (seizures)
12,000 ft (3658 meters)
Drowsiness & Lassitude
Mental and Muscle fatigue
Headache, Nausia, Euphoria (sometimes)

7. Acute Mountain Sickness
HACE (high altitude cerebral edema)
HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema)

8. Highest altitude breathing pure oxygen
Highest altitude where acclimatized can survive
(for a few hours)
Highest permanent human settlement
Unacclimated pass out

9. Acclimatization (physiological or behavioral adustments)
Inc. ventilation
Kidney Compensation
Inc. lung diffusion
Inc. Hematocrit
Inc. Vascularity
Inc. tissue utilization of O2

10. Humans Born at Altitude Individuals from cultures that have lived at altitudes for many generations demonstrate adaptations, to altitude. These adaptations vary from culture to culture. (N.B. don’t confuse adaptations with acclimatization)
Inc. Chest size
Dec. body size
Inc. heart size (esp. right)
Inc. Hematocrit
Inc. cell use of O2

11. Morococha vs. Lima Peru
miles apart
but
4500 vs. 0 meters
in altitude

12. low altitude (Lima) vs. high alt. (Morococha)
Oxygen Levels
low altitude (Lima) vs. high alt. (Morococha)
Oxygen moves “downhill”

13. Andean Altiplano – inc. concentration of Hb Tibetan Plateau – inc
Andean Altiplano – inc. concentration of Hb Tibetan Plateau – inc. ventilation; inc. blood flow Ethiopian Highlands - ?????