Economic Challenges:
Limited opportunities for settlement in high-altitude regions like the Himalayas due to lack of economic prospects.
Agriculture is challenging as the land needs to be terraced, and water for irrigation is scarce.
Higher altitudes have fewer organisms to enrich the soil, affecting agricultural productivity.
Grazing livestock is only feasible during warmer months, limiting economic activities.
Mining is done based on resource availability, attracting settlers to certain high-altitude areas.
Oxygen and Atmospheric Pressure:
Low-altitude dwellers face difficulties adjusting to the reduced atmospheric pressure and lower oxygen levels at high altitudes.
People require more oxygen at high altitudes due to the increase in basal metabolic rate.
It takes a few weeks to acclimatize to the low-oxygen environment.
Lung Capacities:
High-altitude-adapted populations, such as Tibetans and Andeans, have similar metabolic rates at high altitudes as those at lower altitudes.
Lung capacities of high-altitude-adapted individuals are often higher
with increased forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1 (amount of air exhaled in one second).
Certain indigenous populations, like the Quechua, have deep chests and higher lung capacities compared to their counterparts at lower altitudes.
Health and Fitness:
Living at high altitudes can contribute to better fitness levels.
Studies show that the average blood pressure remains healthy in elderly populations.
Challenging living conditions promote physical fitness among high-altitude inhabitants.
Compensatory Benefits:
Some studies indicate potential compensatory benefits of living at high altitudes, such as increased lifespan.
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