ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Altitude training works because of the difference in atmospheric pressure between sea level and high altitude. At sea level, air is denser and there are more molecules of gas per litre of air. Regardless of altitude, air is composed of 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen.

Detailed explanation-2: -Altitude, like elevation, is the distance above sea level. Areas are often considered “high-altitude” if they reach at least 2, 400 meters (8, 000 feet) into the atmosphere. The most high-altitude point on Earth is Mount Everest, in the Himalayan mountain range on the border of Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet.

Detailed explanation-3: -Oxygen availability and altitude Although the percentage of oxygen in inspired air is constant at different altitudes, the fall in atmospheric pressure at higher altitude decreases the partial pressure of inspired oxygen and hence the driving pressure for gas exchange in the lungs.

Detailed explanation-4: -As elite athletes acclimate to high altitude, they acquire more red blood cells which allows their blood to carry more oxygen. When they compete at lower altitudes, they get a natural boost to the muscles when additional oxygen is available.

Detailed explanation-5: -During acclimatization over a few days to weeks, the body produces more red blood cells to counteract the lower oxygen saturation in blood in high altitudes. Full adaptation to high altitude is achieved when the increase of red blood cells reaches a plateau and stops.