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Altitude 22-Mar-2005 At 10:30:00 AM Romfrantic

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On 22/03/2005 martyb wrote:
>Is it possible to increase lung capacity?
>
>I always thought that peoples living at a higher altitude use the availble
>air better, ie have more blood
>platelets.

Frances Ashcroft physiology book "Life at the Extremes" has some interesting facts on the topic. An increase in red blood cells (haematocrit) has its limitations too, as it makes the blood thicker and is then harder for the heart to pump to all capillaries in the extremities. If the density of red blood cells is too high, you can get this condition known as Monge's disease - with signs such as blue lips/fingernails and clubbed fingers - long time exposure to such environments.
Acclimatisation also involves the ability to decrease the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the lungs to make room for oxygen (increase respiration - often why mountaineers with no supplementary oxygen tend to hyperventilate), which also makes the blood more acidic.