What is the specific pulmonary response to high altitude?!


Question: What is the specific pulmonary response to high altitude!?
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Answers:
General changes upon acute exposure to altitude include increased resting and submaximal heart rate, increased resting and submaximal ventilation, increased blood pressure, increased catecholamine secretion and decreased VO2max (maximal oxygen consumption) !.!.!.

These changes result in increased oxygen transport to the tissue, increased alveolar PO2 with a concomitant decrease in carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen ions (H+), increased vascular resistance, increased lactate production and decreased work capacity, respectively !.!.!.

It is very hard to separate the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems in this environment !.!.!. since the work in tandem to maximize oxygenation !.!.!.!.

Long term exposure will show increased hemoglobin to assist with increasing oxygen transport and subsequently oxygen content in the arterial blood !.!.!.!.

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I'm not a physician, but I got pulmonary edema while climbing (successfully) Mt!. Kilimanjaro (19,340')!. Pulmonary edema occurs when fluid (mostly water, I suppose) collects in the lungs!. In my case, it also involves a typical rasping sound in the middle of the chest (breastbone area)!. Pulmonary edema, as well as cerebral edema, is potentially fatal, but is curable if the person descends as quickly as possible to a lower altitude!. This is called a "self limiting" ailment!. While having the condition, it was almost impossible to draw any air into my lungs, which made any exertion nearly impossible!. Sleep was also impossible, and there was a "nonproductive" cough involved, too!. No fun!!!Www@Answer-Health@Com

the higher u go, the less the oxygen concentration!. hence ur breathing rate would increase to compensate for it!. at sea level, ur only breathing 21% oxygen (78%nitrogen, 1% other gases)!.
u would also find it more difficult to breath and depending on the altitude may be gasping for air!. for some unknown reason, at very high altitude (like climbing mt!. everest), u can get pulmonary edema which is fluid in the lungs!. basically u can drown in the fluid!. Www@Answer-Health@Com





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