Question

Persons living at high altitude will have

• A. Increased alveolar capacity.
• B. Increased number of erythrocytes.
• C. Haemoglobin curve shifts towards right.
• D. All of the above.

Answer 1

The correct option is D All of the above.

At high altitude, there is low amount of oxygen due to low partial pressure of air. At high altitude, the heart beats faster, the stroke volume is slightly decreased and non-essential body functions are suppressed.
The body has lower lactate production because the reduced glucose breakdown decreases the amount of lactate formed, decreased plasma volume, increased hematocrit or polycythemia (increase in the number of RBCs), increased RBC mass, a higher concentration of capillaries in the skeletal muscle tissue, increased myoglobin, increased mitochondria and increased aerobic enzyme concentration. As a result, the hemoglobin curve shifts towards right.
Thus, the correct answer is option (D), 'All of the above'.