High Altitude - Understanding its effects .....
Jul 2, 2010 14:53:05 GMT
Post by spindrift on Jul 2, 2010 14:53:05 GMT
on blood metabolism.
Here is news of a recent discovery as to why Tibetans and Sherpas are accustomed and adapted to living (thriving) at high altitude (over 4,000m).
www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/jul/02/mutation-gene-tibetans-altitude
I am interested in this subject because whenever I get the chance I fly off to the high Himalayas and undertake long treks at high altitude. If you read the article you'll see that the Tibetan plateau is at 4,000m so if you're trekking up to and onto it you can be sure you'll feel the effects of forty per cent less oxygen in the air. I had no idea the figure was so high. No wonder I'm like a gasping fish clambering over endless 15,000ft mountain passes with a constant low-grade headache 24/7.
We have been told that when our bodies adapt to high altitude our bone marrow will produce extra amounts of haemoglobin in blood cells, and make extra cells as well. But I did not know that it takes at least 3 weeks before this mechanism swings into action. Not that many treks go on for that long and one is always hoping to feel better (without a headache) but to no avail.
Sherpas and Tibetans have always seemed little fazed by the lack of oxygen and by the end of the day their task is to drag us protesting (and sometimes prostrate) foreigners to journey's end. Now I can understand why they are so sprightly. Bless them. They are born with the mechanism to cope with lack of oxygen. I wonder does this apply to the unfortunate mules and horses in the area. I'm pretty sure that the yak is born with the same mutation since they only live healthy lives at altitudes over 10,000ft and become diseased if they live lower.. Of course they never live lower.
So what I'm thinking is that before an arduous trek, I should go and live at a gentle 9,000ft for 2/3 weeks and start off when my blood cell count is increasing. Funny - but in the past I often felt I should do this and try to escape the headache business.
This would also mean that I could ride a tibetan horse at speed on the plateau...I've tried galloping before but my brain, being swollen with liquid, used to thud against my skull. Yes, I could feel it. I thought it might be dangerous to persist so I told the horse to walk instead.
Here is news of a recent discovery as to why Tibetans and Sherpas are accustomed and adapted to living (thriving) at high altitude (over 4,000m).
www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/jul/02/mutation-gene-tibetans-altitude
I am interested in this subject because whenever I get the chance I fly off to the high Himalayas and undertake long treks at high altitude. If you read the article you'll see that the Tibetan plateau is at 4,000m so if you're trekking up to and onto it you can be sure you'll feel the effects of forty per cent less oxygen in the air. I had no idea the figure was so high. No wonder I'm like a gasping fish clambering over endless 15,000ft mountain passes with a constant low-grade headache 24/7.
We have been told that when our bodies adapt to high altitude our bone marrow will produce extra amounts of haemoglobin in blood cells, and make extra cells as well. But I did not know that it takes at least 3 weeks before this mechanism swings into action. Not that many treks go on for that long and one is always hoping to feel better (without a headache) but to no avail.
Sherpas and Tibetans have always seemed little fazed by the lack of oxygen and by the end of the day their task is to drag us protesting (and sometimes prostrate) foreigners to journey's end. Now I can understand why they are so sprightly. Bless them. They are born with the mechanism to cope with lack of oxygen. I wonder does this apply to the unfortunate mules and horses in the area. I'm pretty sure that the yak is born with the same mutation since they only live healthy lives at altitudes over 10,000ft and become diseased if they live lower.. Of course they never live lower.
So what I'm thinking is that before an arduous trek, I should go and live at a gentle 9,000ft for 2/3 weeks and start off when my blood cell count is increasing. Funny - but in the past I often felt I should do this and try to escape the headache business.
This would also mean that I could ride a tibetan horse at speed on the plateau...I've tried galloping before but my brain, being swollen with liquid, used to thud against my skull. Yes, I could feel it. I thought it might be dangerous to persist so I told the horse to walk instead.