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High Altitude Effects on Mountain Climbers

High altitudes have thinner air and a lower atmospheric pressure compared to sea level. High altitudes can affect the human body in a variety of ways -- especially if you normally live around sea level. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 20 percent of people will develop mild symptoms in elevations between 6,300 and 9,700 feet. Almost everyone will experience some health ailment above 14,000 feet. Effects of high altitudes include mountain sickness, cerebral hypoxia, pulmonary edema and decreased cardiac output.

  1. Mountain Sickness

    • Mountain sickness encompasses a variety of symptoms caused from reduced air pressure and lower levels of oxygen. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, dizziness, fatigue, headache, rapid pulse and nausea, to name a few. Mountain sickness is generally mild and can be relieved by descending to lower altitudes. Severe mountain sickness is less common and may cause a blueish discoloration of the skin, chronic cough, decreased consciousness and chest tightness or congestion.

    Cerebral Hypoxia

    • Cerebral hypoxia occurs when the brain does not receive enough oxygen to function properly. Cerebral hypoxia is a serious condition because brain cells are sensitive to a lack of oxygen. According to the National Institutes of Health, some brain cells start to die in less than five minutes after being denied an adequate supply of oxygen. Left untreated, cerebral hypoxia can rapidly cause severe brain damage or death. Symptoms of early stage cerebral hypoxia include inattentiveness, poor judgment and uncoordinated movement.

    High Altitude Pulmonary Edema

    • High altitude pulmonary edema occurs when tiny sac in the lungs, known as alveoli, fill up with fluids instead of oxygen. Pulmonary edema is commonly a result of heart conditions, but can occur in higher elevations because of increased pressure on the arteries and capillaries --- causing them to leak. According to MayoClinic.com, high altitude pulmonary edema tends to occur at elevations above 8,000 feet. Symptoms of pulmonary edema include extreme shortness of breath, wheezing, excessive sweating, chest pain and an irregular, rapid heartbeat.

    Decreased Cardiac Output

    • Exposure to thin air at higher elevation decreases cardiac output because your body is not able to absorb as much oxygen. This makes it hard for people to physically push themselves as hard as they could at sea level. However, according to Sportsci.org, the human body compensates for thinner air by producing more oxygen-absorbing red blood cells after a few weeks of living at high elevations.

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