Why do people living at a high altitude seem to be red?
They seem to be reddish because of greater concentration of hemoglobin the oxygen carrying protein the main component of red blood cells.
Last updated on 12 Dec 2024
High hemoglobin levels can lead to dizziness, fatigue, easy bruising and other symptoms.
Humans can survive at high altitudes. However, if you go to a high altitude, your body needs to adjust properly by getting used to it slowly or you could get sick.
High altitude environments can be debilitating to unacclimatized individuals exposed to elevations above 3,000 m (9,843 ft) for periods ranging from several hours to days. Moderate hypoxia induces substantial alterations in physiological and psychological parameters within a few hours
At higher altitudes such as on top of a mountain, the air is less dense and this means that the partial pressure of oxygen is lower. Hence, the fall in atmospheric pressure at higher altitude decreases the partial pressure of inspired oxygen
If you have altitude sickness you should first acclimatise with the enviroment for 24-48 hours before stepping out to do any activity.
Hemoglobin, Iron Test
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