Adaptation at elevated altitudes in human beings is a process of evolutionary adaptation in populations of Tibet, the Andes and Ethiopia. These people have attained the power of survival at extreme climate conditions (Beall et al., 2002). As life at high altitude is tough, this causes adaptational mechanisms among these inhabitants (Van Patot & Gassmann, 2011). While these severe conditions would have an abysmal negative effect on the health of human beings throughout the planet, the abovementioned populations can survive at these most elevated regions of the globe. While the majority of the world’s population would be prone to serious health consequences for instance hypoxia, these inhabitants prosper in the highest parts of the globe.
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The several mechanisms having to adapt in response to being exposed to high altitudes are focused towards optimising oxygen availability and raising the pressure of oxygen at the tissue level. This is achieved through some alterations in the conveyment of oxygen in the blood, pulmonary ventilation, usage of oxygen at tissue level, movement of oxygen from blood to tissues and lastly lung volume and pulmonary diffusing capacity (Martin et al., 2008). Inborn lowlanders have their typical red blood cell counts alternating from 5 to 8 million per cubic millimetre in comparison to 4.5 million at low elevation (Hurtado, 1964). In conjunction with a rise in the red blood cells, the haemoglobin is increased at high altitudes with the averages lying from 17 to 20 grams per 100 millilitres in comparison with the 12 to 16 grams per 100 millilitres at sea level (Hurtado, 1964). In lowlanders at altitude, oxygen flux is maximised to the tissues by augmenting minute ventilation, cardiac output and haemoglobin which is shown on acclimatization (Grocott et al., 2007). Lowland natives exhibit both at rest and while exercising, a gradual intensification in pulmonary ventilation that can reach approximately 100% of sea level values (Chiodi, 1957; Rahn and Otis, 1949; Reeves et al., 1967; Severinghaus et al., 1966; Torrance et al., …show more content…
Hypoxemia is prevented as there is enough oxygen being transmitted to the blood in the arteries in spite of the ambien hypoxia. A single study conducted found that the Ethiopian pattern is categorised by levels of oxygen saturation and arterial oxygen akin of those of those inhabitants from the sea-level populations in healthy state. It was as if the Ehiopian plateau inhabitants have never lived at such a high altitude (Beall et al., 2000). They also do not show any major alteration in the circulation of blood of the brain (Claydo et al.,2008). The Ethiopian highlanders demonstrate a propable third type of pulmonary response to hypoxia. It was shown that they are able to increase the pressure in their lungs without being accompanied by an increase in vascular resistance which is due to an increase in blood flow (Hoit et al.,
The several mechanisms having to adapt in response to being exposed to high altitudes are focused towards optimising oxygen availability and raising the pressure of oxygen at the tissue level. This is achieved through some alterations in the conveyment of oxygen in the blood, pulmonary ventilation, usage of oxygen at tissue level, movement of oxygen from blood to tissues and lastly lung volume and pulmonary diffusing capacity (Martin et al., 2008). Inborn lowlanders have their typical red blood cell counts alternating from 5 to 8 million per cubic millimetre in comparison to 4.5 million at low elevation (Hurtado, 1964). In conjunction with a rise in the red blood cells, the haemoglobin is increased at high altitudes with the averages lying from 17 to 20 grams per 100 millilitres in comparison with the 12 to 16 grams per 100 millilitres at sea level (Hurtado, 1964). In lowlanders at altitude, oxygen flux is maximised to the tissues by augmenting minute ventilation, cardiac output and haemoglobin which is shown on acclimatization (Grocott et al., 2007). Lowland natives exhibit both at rest and while exercising, a gradual intensification in pulmonary ventilation that can reach approximately 100% of sea level values (Chiodi, 1957; Rahn and Otis, 1949; Reeves et al., 1967; Severinghaus et al., 1966; Torrance et al., …show more content…
Hypoxemia is prevented as there is enough oxygen being transmitted to the blood in the arteries in spite of the ambien hypoxia. A single study conducted found that the Ethiopian pattern is categorised by levels of oxygen saturation and arterial oxygen akin of those of those inhabitants from the sea-level populations in healthy state. It was as if the Ehiopian plateau inhabitants have never lived at such a high altitude (Beall et al., 2000). They also do not show any major alteration in the circulation of blood of the brain (Claydo et al.,2008). The Ethiopian highlanders demonstrate a propable third type of pulmonary response to hypoxia. It was shown that they are able to increase the pressure in their lungs without being accompanied by an increase in vascular resistance which is due to an increase in blood flow (Hoit et al.,