2007-07-18 05:56:06 · 5 answers · asked by Sanawar N 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Because of the lower oxygen content of the air. The body produces more red cells to increase transfer of oxygen to the cells.
2007-07-18 05:59:18 · answer #1 · answered by JLynes 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pressure of oxygen is lower at higher altitude and so when a person first goes to a high altitude from a low one, they are somewhat hypoxic. The body does several things to adapt to the lower pressure of oxygen. One change affects the ability of hemoglobin to release oxygen that it has bound. The other change is to increase the concentration of RBCs.
2007-07-18 06:00:02 · answer #2 · answered by hcbiochem 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lower atmospheric pressure means less oxygen per breath. The higher red cell count helps to pick up more of the oxygen that they breath in.
2007-07-18 05:59:23 · answer #3 · answered by Diminati 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because at a higher altitude you body has to work harder than at a lower altitude requiring more RBC's to be circulating through your body your heart is working harder to pump it.
2007-07-18 06:19:04 · answer #4 · answered by iamagoddess131 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They adapt to the reduced availability of oxygen in the air by maintaining a higher number of red blood cells to absorb a larger percentage of the oxygen in each breath so that their blood oxygen level meets their metabolic needs.
2007-07-18 06:01:39 · answer #5 · answered by PoppaJ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋