At 9,000 feet, respiration speeds and deepens as the body senses less oxygen. The brain swells slightly, causing headache and nausea, The kidneys excrete a hormone that triggers the production of more red blood cells. Seventy-five percent of the oxygen at sea level is available.
At 18,000 feet, the lungs expel more carbon dioxide, disrupting the blood's pH balance. The kidneys discharge more water to correct the blood's acidity, causing dehydration. Fifty percent of the oxygen at sea level is available.
At 29,000 feet -- the summit of Mount Everest -- the heart pounds, even at rest. Auditory and visual hallucinations, confusion, and slurred speech begin. Pulmonary and cerebral edema are likely. Thirty percent of the oxygen at sea level is available.
This altitude is called the "death zone" for good reason. The body begins to feed on itself, resulting in brain damage. So one must get up and down as quickly as possible.
The highest permanent human settlement is La Rinconada, Peru, at 16,730 feet. Andean people have more red blood cells, greater lung capacity, and smaller bodies, which have fewer capillaries to transport blood.
At 18,000 feet, the lungs expel more carbon dioxide, disrupting the blood's pH balance. The kidneys discharge more water to correct the blood's acidity, causing dehydration. Fifty percent of the oxygen at sea level is available.
At 29,000 feet -- the summit of Mount Everest -- the heart pounds, even at rest. Auditory and visual hallucinations, confusion, and slurred speech begin. Pulmonary and cerebral edema are likely. Thirty percent of the oxygen at sea level is available.
This altitude is called the "death zone" for good reason. The body begins to feed on itself, resulting in brain damage. So one must get up and down as quickly as possible.
The highest permanent human settlement is La Rinconada, Peru, at 16,730 feet. Andean people have more red blood cells, greater lung capacity, and smaller bodies, which have fewer capillaries to transport blood.
