What happens to your body at the top of Mount Everest - Andrew Lovering

Summary

This script delves into the human body's response to high altitudes, highlighting the dangers of rapid ascent like teleporting to Mt. Everest's peak, where one could suffocate due to the 33% lower oxygen levels. It explains how gradual acclimatization over a month allows the body to adapt through increased heart rate, breathing, and hemoglobin levels, enabling climbers to survive at extreme altitudes. The script also touches on severe altitude sickness conditions like HACE and HAPE, and the remarkable resilience of high-altitude populations.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Teleporting directly to Mt. Everest from sea level can be fatal due to the drastic decrease in barometric pressure and oxygen levels.
• 🏔️ At the summit of Mt. Everest (8,848 meters), the barometric pressure is only about 33% of that at sea level.
• 💨 The air at high altitudes is thinner, leading to less oxygen available for absorption by the body.
• 🏔️ Altitude sickness, specifically Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), can occur when ascending too quickly above 2,500 meters, causing symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and nausea.
• 🔍 Our bodies can adapt to high altitudes through various physiological responses, such as increased breathing rate and heart rate.
• 🩸 Within days of reaching higher altitudes, the body decreases plasma volume, increasing hemoglobin concentration to carry more oxygen.
• 💓 Over two weeks, hemoglobin levels rise, allowing the blood to carry more oxygen and the heart to pump more efficiently.
• 🌬️ Ventilatory acclimatization occurs, further increasing breathing to help the body adjust to the lower oxygen levels.
• 🧠 At altitudes above 3,500 meters, the body faces additional stress, with potential for High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE).
• 🧬 Some individuals with a genetic history of living at high altitudes may have advantages in preventing minor altitude sickness but are not immune to severe conditions.

Q & A

What would happen if someone teleported from sea level to the top of Mt. Everest?

The individual would likely suffer from severe oxygen deprivation due to the significantly lower barometric pressure and oxygen levels at the summit, potentially leading to suffocation within minutes.

Why can people survive at the peak of Mt. Everest for hours if they ascend gradually over a month?

The human body undergoes a series of physiological adaptations to high altitude over time, including increased breathing and heart rate, higher hemoglobin levels, and ventilatory acclimatization, which collectively help to distribute oxygen more efficiently.

What is the barometric pressure at the altitude of Mt. Everest compared to sea level?

The barometric pressure at the summit of Mt. Everest, at 8,848 meters, is approximately 33% of what it is at sea level.

What is altitude sickness, and what are the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)?

Altitude sickness is a condition caused by oxygen deprivation at high altitudes. AMS is a form of altitude sickness that can cause symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and nausea, typically occurring when ascending too quickly.

How does the body respond to low oxygen pressure immediately after reaching high altitudes?

Within minutes or seconds of reaching altitudes above 1,500 meters, carotid chemoreceptors in the neck sense the low oxygen pressure, triggering an increase in breathing rate and depth, as well as an increase in heart rate and the force of heart contractions.

What are the long-term adaptations that occur in the body if it stays at high altitude for several weeks?

Long-term adaptations include a decrease in plasma volume, leading to higher hemoglobin concentration, an increase in hemoglobin levels over two weeks, and ventilatory acclimatization, which further increases breathing efficiency.

How does the volume of blood pumped with each heartbeat change during acclimatization to high altitude?

Initially, the heart rate and the force of contractions increase to pump more blood. However, after several weeks of acclimatization, the volume of blood pumped with each heartbeat can return to normal levels due to the increased oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

What are HACE and HAPE, and why are they dangerous?

HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) and HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) are conditions that occur at altitudes above 3,500 meters, where increased pressure in the brain's arteries and veins or constriction of lung blood vessels can cause leakage and fluid buildup, potentially leading to life-threatening complications.

Do genetic factors play a role in preventing altitude sickness for some individuals?

Yes, some Tibetans and South Americans with family histories of living at high altitudes may have genetic advantages that help prevent minor altitude sickness, although they are not immune to severe conditions like HACE and HAPE.

How have climbers over the last century demonstrated human adaptability to high altitudes?

Climbers have pushed past their body's limitations by successfully reaching the highest points on Earth, such as the summit of Mt. Everest, thereby redefining the boundaries of human adaptability to extreme environments.

Outlines

00:00

🏔️ Adapting to High Altitudes

This paragraph discusses the severe physiological effects of sudden exposure to high altitudes, such as the summit of Mt. Everest, where the oxygen levels are drastically lower than at sea level. It explains that while a sudden ascent could lead to life-threatening conditions like suffocation due to lack of oxygen, a gradual ascent over time allows the body to adapt through various physiological changes. The paragraph also touches on the initial symptoms of altitude sickness and the body's short-term responses, such as increased breathing and heart rate, to compensate for the reduced oxygen availability.

Keywords

💡Teleported

Teleported refers to the hypothetical instantaneous movement from one location to another. In the context of the video, it illustrates the sudden change in altitude from sea level to the top of Mt. Everest, which would lead to severe oxygen deprivation and potential suffocation due to the drastic reduction in barometric pressure and oxygen levels.

💡Barometric Pressure

Barometric pressure is the pressure exerted by the atmosphere on a unit of surface area. It is a crucial factor in understanding how altitude affects the availability of oxygen. The video mentions that at Mt. Everest's altitude, barometric pressure is approximately 33% of that at sea level, which significantly impacts the amount of oxygen available for human respiration.

💡Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), is a condition that occurs when a person ascends to high altitudes too quickly, leading to symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and nausea due to reduced oxygen levels. The video discusses how this condition can affect individuals who ascend to altitudes above 2,500 meters, highlighting the body's struggle to adapt to lower oxygen availability.

💡Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that binds to oxygen, allowing the blood to transport oxygen throughout the body. The video explains that at lower altitudes, hemoglobin binds to oxygen molecules, facilitating oxygen transport. As altitude increases, the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood can rise to compensate for the reduced oxygen levels, helping the body adapt to high altitudes.

💡Carotid Chemoreceptors

Carotid chemoreceptors are sensory receptors located in the neck that detect changes in blood oxygen levels. The video describes how these receptors quickly respond to low oxygen pressure at high altitudes by triggering an increase in breathing rate and depth, as well as heart rate, to counteract the lack of oxygen.

💡Plasma Volume

Plasma volume refers to the total volume of plasma in the blood. The video explains that at high altitudes, the volume of plasma decreases, which in turn increases the concentration of hemoglobin. This adaptation helps the blood carry more oxygen per milliliter, aiding in the body's acclimatization to high altitudes.

💡Ventilatory Acclimatization

Ventilatory acclimatization is the process by which the body adjusts its breathing rate and depth to cope with changes in environmental conditions, such as reduced oxygen levels at high altitudes. The video mentions that over several weeks, breathing increases further as part of the body's acclimatization to high altitudes, allowing for more efficient oxygen distribution.

💡HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema)

High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by fluid buildup in the brain due to increased pressure from dilated arteries and veins at high altitudes. The video discusses this condition in the context of the extreme altitudes found above 3,500 meters, emphasizing the severe physiological stress experienced by the body.

💡HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema)

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) is a condition where fluid builds up in the lungs due to constricted blood vessels in response to low oxygen levels at high altitudes. The video explains that, similar to HACE, HAPE can be life-threatening and is a significant risk for those ascending to extreme altitudes.

💡Genetic Advantages

Genetic advantages refer to inherited traits that provide an individual with a natural advantage in certain conditions. The video mentions that some Tibetans and South Americans with family histories of living at high altitudes may have genetic traits that help prevent minor altitude sickness, illustrating how genetics can play a role in the body's ability to adapt to high altitudes.

💡Acclimatization

Acclimatization is the process by which the body adjusts to new environmental conditions, such as changes in altitude. The video discusses the various physiological changes that occur during acclimatization, including increased heart rate, breathing rate, and hemoglobin levels, which help the body cope with the reduced oxygen levels at high altitudes.

Highlights

Teleporting from sea level to Mt. Everest's peak would cause rapid oxygen deprivation and potential suffocation within minutes.

At 8,848 meters, the barometric pressure is only 33% of that at sea level, leading to significantly less oxygen availability.

People who gradually ascend to high altitudes can survive for hours at the peak due to the body's adaptive mechanisms.

At altitudes below 500 meters, oxygen molecules bind to hemoglobin in red blood cells for efficient oxygen transport.

As altitude increases, air thins, and oxygen deprivation can cause Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

AMS symptoms include headaches, fatigue, and nausea, and occur when ascending too quickly.

The body has multiple ways to adapt to high altitudes, starting with increased breathing and heart rate within minutes of reaching 1,500 meters.

Long-term adaptations include a decrease in plasma volume and an increase in hemoglobin levels for better oxygen transport.

High heart rate and increased hemoglobin-rich blood allow for normal blood volume per heartbeat after acclimatization.

Ventilatory acclimatization increases breathing efficiency over several weeks at high altitudes.

Climbers must acclimatize gradually, often descending to recover before ascending further.

Above 3,500 meters, the body experiences stress with dilated brain arteries and potential for fluid buildup.

High altitude can cause HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) and HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema), severe and life-threatening conditions.

Some individuals with a genetic predisposition for high altitude living have advantages against minor altitude sickness.

Despite risks, climbers have demonstrated that humans can adapt to and survive at extreme altitudes.

Climbers have pushed the boundaries of human adaptation, redefining the limits of what is possible.

Transcripts

If someone teleported from sea level to the top of Mt. Everest,

things would go bad fast.

At an altitude of 8,848 meters,

barometric pressure is approximately 33% of what it is at sea level.

This means there's significantly less oxygen in the air,

and our teleported individual would likely suffocate in minutes.

However, for people that make this same journey over the course of a month,

it's possible to survive at the peak for hours.

So what can happen to our bodies in just one month

that allows us to endure this incredible altitude?

Let’s imagine you’re one of the 5.8 billion people

living less than 500 meters above sea level.

When you take a breath at this altitude,

your lungs fill up with air composed of numerous gases and compounds.

Most important among these are oxygen molecules,

which bind to the hemoglobin in your red blood cells.

Blood then circulates throughout your body,

bringing essential oxygen to all your cells.

But as altitude increases, the air starts to get thinner.

The relative amounts of each compound remain the same

well into the upper atmosphere,

but overall, there is less oxygen for our bodies to absorb.

And if you ascend to altitudes above 2,500 meters,

the resulting oxygen deprivation can cause a form of altitude sickness

known as AMS,

often causing headaches, fatigue and nausea.

Fortunately, AMS only happens when we ascend too fast,

because our bodies have numerous ways of adapting to high altitudes.

Within minutes or even seconds of reaching altitudes of 1,500 meters,

carotid chemoreceptors in your neck sense your blood’s low oxygen pressure.

This triggers a response that increases the rate and depth of your breathing

to counteract the lack of oxygen.

Your heart rate also increases

and your heart contracts more tightly to pump additional blood with each beat,

quickly moving oxygenated blood around your body.

All these changes happen relatively fast, and if you were to keep ascending,

your heart rate and breathing would speed up accordingly.

But if you stayed at this altitude for several weeks,

you could reap the benefits of some longer-term adaptations.

Within the first few days above 1,500 meters,

the volume of plasma in your blood decreases,

which increases the concentration of hemoglobin.

Over the next two weeks, your hemoglobin levels will continue to rise,

allowing your blood to carry even more oxygen per milliliter.

Paired with your high heart rate,

this new hemoglobin-rich blood efficiently distributes oxygen throughout your body.

So much so that the volume of blood being pumped with each heartbeat

can return to normal levels.

Over this same time, your breathing also increases even further

in a process called ventilatory acclimatization.

After this several weeks of extended acclimatization,

your body has made enough significant changes to climb even higher.

However, you’ll still have to spend additional time acclimating along the way,

often climbing back down to recover before ascending even higher.

Because the summit of Everest isn't just high,

it’s the highest place on Earth.

And at altitudes above 3,500 meters, our bodies are under incredible stress.

Arteries and veins in the brain dilate to speed up blood flow,

But our smallest blood vessels, called capillaries,

remain the same size.

This increased pressure can cause blood vessels to leak,

and fluid to build up in the brain.

A similar issue can occur in the lungs,

where low oxygen causes blood vessels to constrict,

leading to more leaking vessels and fluid buildup.

These two conditions— known as HACE and HAPE, respectively—

are incredibly rare,

but can be life-threatening if not dealt with quickly.

Some Tibetans and South Americans with family histories

of living at high altitude

have genetic advantages that can prevent minor altitude sickness,

but even they aren’t immune to these severe conditions.

Yet despite these risks, climbers over the last century

have proved people can go higher than scientists ever thought possible.

Pushing past their body’s limitations,

these climbers have redefined what humanity can adapt to.