This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Acclimatization to altitude

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

At high altitude the partial pressure of oxygen is reduced in the inspired air. Various adaptive processes occur if there is chronic exposure to oxygen levels at high altitude.

Acclimatisation is the process of the body adjusting to the decreasing availability of oxygen.

Acclimatisation (biochemical changes) usually occurs from about 1500m (5000ft)

  • acute adaption
    • increased respiratory rate } mediated by peripheral
    • hypocapnia } chemoreceptors which are sensitive to oxygen (respiratory alkalosis)
    • arterial oxygen saturation drops
    • hyperventilation is reversible if oxygen is administered during the first 5-10 days. After this period hyperventilation is unaffected by inspiration of increased partial pressure oxygen
  • other changes
    • polycythaemia - may take months to develop fully
    • oxygen dissociation curve is shifted to the right - thus the oxygen affinity for haemoglobin is reduced and this facilitates oxygen delivery to the tissues. The shift of the oxygen dissociation curve is mediated by the increased levels of 2,3 diphosphoglycerate in red cells produced as a result of hypoxia

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.