When we go to high places, like mountains, our bodies make some changes to help us breathe better because there’s less oxygen. Here are some of the main changes:
Bigger Lungs: Our lungs may get bigger, which helps us take in more oxygen. This can be about 10-15% more lung space.
More Alveoli: Alveoli are tiny air sacs in our lungs where gas exchange happens. At high altitudes, the number of these sacs can increase, sometimes by 30% or more. This helps us get more oxygen.
Faster Breathing: We tend to breathe faster, usually about 50% more, to make sure we take in enough oxygen.
More Capillaries: Capillaries are tiny blood vessels. In the lungs, their numbers can increase by 25-30%, helping oxygen move into the blood more easily.
All these changes help our bodies keep the right balance of oxygen, even when it’s low in the air.
When we go to high places, like mountains, our bodies make some changes to help us breathe better because there’s less oxygen. Here are some of the main changes:
Bigger Lungs: Our lungs may get bigger, which helps us take in more oxygen. This can be about 10-15% more lung space.
More Alveoli: Alveoli are tiny air sacs in our lungs where gas exchange happens. At high altitudes, the number of these sacs can increase, sometimes by 30% or more. This helps us get more oxygen.
Faster Breathing: We tend to breathe faster, usually about 50% more, to make sure we take in enough oxygen.
More Capillaries: Capillaries are tiny blood vessels. In the lungs, their numbers can increase by 25-30%, helping oxygen move into the blood more easily.
All these changes help our bodies keep the right balance of oxygen, even when it’s low in the air.