Effects on the Human Body
Due to the lack of oxygen at high altitude breathing becomes
increasingly difficult and mental and physical alertness
decreases.
This is due to hypoxia, a decrease in oxygen at a cellular level, which effects aerobic metabolism, which effects nearly all tissues in the body. The brain cells are very sensitive to this and begin to die 5 seconds after oxygen deprivation. This is known as cerebral hypoxia and can cause severe brain damage and lead to death. Hypoxia also leads to altitude sickness.
It is also shown to have an effect on pregnant mothers and their unborn children, as it effects the cardio pulmonary function. This increases the heart rate and has shown negative effects on both mother and child, causing a decrease in fetal breathing movements although this is not completely understood.
It is also shown to have an effect on pregnant mothers and their unborn children, as it effects the cardio pulmonary function. This increases the heart rate and has shown negative effects on both mother and child, causing a decrease in fetal breathing movements although this is not completely understood.
Sleeping
Sleeping at High altitude can be difficult due to periodic breathing. This causes a lighter sleep cycle and fragmented sleep with irregular breathing patterns as the body senses low oxygen levels during sleep which cause the lungs to alternate between breathing quick, shallow breaths and slower, deeper breaths.