The Circulatory System and Respiratory

System

Let’s say that a healthy person,male aged 20-30 years old wants to climb

Mount Everest.Please describe the changes in his circulatory and respiratory system

when he…….

(a)When he was climbing the mountain???

It will cause a change in his ciculatory system which are:

The heart beat faster to transport the oxygenaround the body cellsThe oxygen in the air is inhaled into our lungsred blood cells are pumped to our tissues such as the muscles we need during exerciseThe blood flow also increasethe body can acclimatise to the lower pressure by increasing the number of red blood cell broad chests (high lung capacity), larger hearts and more haemoglobin in the blood than usual

It also will cause a change in his respiratory system which

are:Very little of the oxygen carried by the blood is carried in dissolved form in the plasmaHigher pressures of oxygen enable the hemoglobin to take up larger quantities of oxygen.Lower oxygen pressures will result in an increasing tendency by the hemoglobin to give up oxygenCauses an increasing in breathingFaster breathing due to a higher need for carbon dioxide to be released and oxygen will be taken

(b) When he was reached the

highest peak???

When he was at higher peak,the circulatory system will:

Make the heart beat become fasterMore oxygen is needed to transport around the bodyChanges occur at all levels of the oxygen transport system, namely, ventilation, pulmonary diffusion, circulation, and tissue diffusionExposure to high altitude has important implications for the cardiovascular systemThe stroke volume is slightly decrease

When he was at higher peak,the respiratory system

Will :

Lack of oxygen sufficientWe are also become hard to breath This is because the atmosphere pressure are lowWe also will breath faster and deeper breathing This is because of oxygen demand

Respiratory System

Definition of High Altitude

If he were suffer from hypoxia or high altitude

Sickness….What are his symptom and

what are the possibleTreatment????

What’s mean by the altitude

sickness???. Its also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS) caused by acute exposure to low air pressure.The higher we go above sea level,the less oxygen there to breathWhen we reach elavations above 2000m,our body doesn’t always adjust quickly enough to the decrease in oxygenThe higher and faster a person climbs,the more likely altitude sickness will developed

Some of the effect on altitude sickness

The Symptoms of Altitude Sickness are:

Headche which is a primary symptome used to diagnose altitude sickness Lack of appetite,nausea or vomitingFatigue or weaknessInsomniaShortness of breath upon exertionPeripheral edema likes swelling of hands,feet and also faceRapid pulse (heart rate)Change in attention

The Possible Treatment:Breathing assistance (mechanical ventilation)Controlling the heart rate and rhythmFluids,blood products or medications to raise blood pressure if it is lowMedications including phenytoin,valproic acid or general anesthetics to calm seizuresIncreased water intake may also help in acclimatisation to replace fluid lostSteroids to reduce pulmonary or cerebral edema

Would it make any differences

If the climbers are female???

NO.Because they will have the same changes in circulatory and respiratory system.Actually men are five times more likely than

women to develop altitude sickness,but acute mountain

sickness affect men and women equally.