Cardiorespiratory characteristics and adaptation to high altitudes

The lowered partial pressure of oxygen at high altitude is one of the severest and most pervasive environmental stresses affecting human populations. Virtually all organ systems and physiological functions are affected by hypoxia, and only elaborate modern technology can temporarily ameliorate the hypoxic stress of altitude exposure. The biological and behavioral responses of newcomers, sojourners, and native residents at higher elevations could provide a paradigm of the study of man's adaptation to the physical environment. Cardiorespiratory characteristics are closely related to altitude exposure, and certain alterations in these characteristics constitute the principal adaptive responses of the organism to hypoxia. However, not all altitude-related characteristics are beneficial to the organism; some peculiar characteristics occurring at high altitude may be without benefits, or may even be pathological and maladaptive. The roles of age, sex, race, physical condition, nutrition, and intensity and frequency of exposure during growth and development of altitude-related characteristics are not entirely understood. Moreover the influence of even large circulatory and respiratory alterations, on tissue oxygen tension may be small, and their adaptive significance difficult to evaluate. An equivalent level of functional adaptation might be achieved through differing combinations of structural, functional, and behavioral characteristics. It is concluded that more rigorous evaluations of adaptation to the environment are needed.