Human Variation & Race Blog
High altitude can hinder the efficiency of blood flow and oxygen exchange to the human body. Our atmosphere is a mixture of gases in which 21% of those gases is oxygen; which is essential for life. Once we are approximately 7,000 feet above sea level our bodies experience a “fight or flight” syndrome. In order to exchange the proper amount of oxygen to our tissues, a short term affect of our body is to breathe faster because of the lack of adequate oxygen in our atmosphere; we need to accommodate this by increased respirations to exchange more o2. Breathing faster increases chances of perfusion to vital body organs. The heart will begin to pump faster, which decreases the cardiac stroke volume. The increased heart rate improves circulation of o2. An increase in blood pressure allows the body to adapt by increasing perfusion to tissues in the body. Another short term adaptation is our body will decrease non vital bodily functions; such as the digestive tract, to preserve the perfusion to essential organs; such as the heart, brain, and lungs.
Our bodies will respond by changing the DNA by increasing hemoglobin levels in our blood system. By compensating for the stress that is placed on the vital organs; such as the heart, brain, and lungs, the body will make more red blood cells (RBC’s) which are the oxygen carrying cells in our bodies. By doing this, the stress is relieved on the organs because the additional RBC’s allows more oxygen to travel via the blood system which then is carried throughout the body. Capillaries will increase and broaden to allow more adequate blood flow from the lungs to transfer molecules needed for survival to vital organs.Because altitude levels can significantly hinder a person’s homeostasis, societies/cultures have adapted by creating apparatuses to assist in breathing. The equipment can lessen the stressors our bodies need to place in a short term affect and allow for better perfusion, oxygen exchange, and increase survival. Oxygen tanks are used to provide supplemental support and breathing apparatuses are used for the same purpose.
I am not sure there is a way to compare race and an understanding to the variances of adaptations the human body produces when experiencing high altitude. All humans have imposed genetically adaptations the body produces naturally when it fears homeostasis is out of balance. Being able to understand how high altitude affects the human body does allow us to adjust accordingly through interventions; whether those interventions are through supplemental uses or naturally taking place. I think exploration of such environmental influences is what allows us to be able to fly in airplanes. The oxygen masks will fall to the passengers if the cabin pressure changes to undesirable levels for humans to be able to function properly. With flying, the cabin is always kept in a constant mix of gases (oxygen) to reduce risks. Without such studies and understandings, humans would most likely face deadly consequences.
I like how you incorporate Airplanes into the high altitude study. I too did altitude and focused more on the visiting side considering summer is nearly upon us... YAY!!! Anyway, I like your post because most think of high altitude as mountains not flying. Pressurized airplane cabins hinder the feeling of the altitude; making one of the only indications of the rise, your popping ears. The masks are a huge necessity to protect lives on the plane if that pressure is at all tampered with.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Kendell
In general, good discussion, with a couple of corrections.
ReplyDeleteIncreasing RBCs and vasodilation are both facultative adaptations. What are the developmental adaptations?
I agree that race is not useful in studies like these but why not?
The expansion of lung residual would be the developemental adaptation. This would occur over generations who are born into a climate/high atmosphere. I thought explaining the expansion of the lung capacity touched based on developmental adaptaions; however, after re-reading my blog, I see I did not specifically define it. The left lung, specifically will become enlarged allowing stroke volume from the cardiac system to increase residual volume in the lung capacity to assist in the breathing for high altitude developmental adaptations.
ReplyDeleteRace does not discipher how a person will react to high altitude because we are made the same way, with the same circulatory systems, same lung bases, same concepts of DNA. Stressors on the human body impose the same adaptations regardless of race because our format of organs, tissues,muscles, etc does not change because of race...we all bleed...we all breathe...we all pump blood round and round =)
Good response. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your use of pictures. Altitude, unlike heat or cold, is something that I have never noticed directly affecting my life. It is intriguing to think how differently humans develop based off of altitude. One of the only things that I can relate to, you did mention. I always have to pop my ears when I am flying on an airplane, because of the quick change in altitude. I don't think I would be able to live an existence where I get a smaller amount of oxygen per breath than I have grown accustomed to. If anything, I would like to live somewhere that every breath I take is very rich with oxygen.
ReplyDelete