Question

How does decreasing the atmospheric pressure of co2 at higher elevations affect the body?

Answer 1

WHEN WE TRAVEL TO HIGHER ELEVATIONS THE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE DROPS. DUE TO THIS THE PARTIAL PRESSURE OF OXYGEN AND PARTIAL PRESSURE OF CARBON DIOXIDE ALSO DECREASES .SO THE AVAILABILITY OF OXYGEN AND THE AVAILABILTY OF CARBON DIOXIDE DECREASES AS WE GO TO HIGHER ALTITUDES. SO TO MAINATAIN THE AMOUNT OF OXYGEN IN THE BLOOD WE BREATH FASTER AS WE GO TO HIGHER ALTITUDES . CARBON DIOXIDE IS CONSTANTLY PRODUCED BY THE BODY AS A RESULT OF METABOLISM. IT IS DIFFUSED WITH THE ATMOSPHERIC AIR THROUGH THE LUNGS. SO IN HIGHER ALTITUDES THE RATE OF BREATHING IS HIGHER SO MORE AMOUNT OF CARBON DIOXIDE IS REMOVED FROM THE BODY. ALSO THE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE OF CARBON DIOXIDE IS LOWEER IN HIGHER ALTITUDES SO IT FAVOURS THE RELEASE OF MORE AMOUNT OF CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE BODY.SO THE AMOUNT OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE BLOOD DECREASES .

WE KNOW THAT CARBON DIOXIDE IS AN ACIDIC GAS . SO WHEN THE AMOUNT OF CARBON DIOXIDE DECREASES THE BLOOD BECOMES ALKALINE. THE KIDNEY WILL REMOVE THE ALKALY BY CONVERTING IT IN THE FORM OF BICARBONATE IONS TO MAINATAIN THE PH . SO THE AMOUNT OF BICARBONATE IONS IN THE BLOOD DECREASES. IF THE PH OF THE BLOOD DECRESES DUE TO LOW LEVEL OF CARBON DIOXIDE IT LEADS TO A CONDITION KNOWN AS ALKALOSIS.THE SYMPTOMS OF LOW LEVEL OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE BODY ARE:

MUSCLE TWITCHING

NAUSEA

VOMITING

NUMBENESS OR TINGLING IN THE FACE HAND AND FEET

PROLONGED MUSCLE SPASMS.