Why do people living at a high altitude seem to be red?
They seem to be reddish because of greater concentration of hemoglobin the oxygen carrying protein the main component of red blood cells.
Last updated on 19 May 2023
High hemoglobin levels can lead to dizziness, fatigue, easy bruising and other symptoms.
At higher altitudes such as on top of a mountain, the air is less dense and this means that the partial pressure of oxygen is lower.
High altitudes can cause low oxygen saturation levels or desaturation of an individual's blood. It happens because of low atmospheric pressure at high altitudes. Oxygen saturation levels refer to the extent hemoglobin is bound or saturated to oxygen.
Supplemental oxygen is required above 10,000 feet
Humans can certainly experience reverse altitude sickness, known as high-altitude de acclimatisation syndrome (HADAS). When people who live at low altitude have adjusted to a high-altitude, low-oxygen environment, they can get any of a large number of possible symptoms of HADAS when returning to a lower altitude.
Hb Test, Hb
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