The idea for this post came to me this weekend when I was in Big Bear. Most individuals understand that is harder to exercise in higher altitude. Also, it is well known that if you train in higher altitudes for a period of time your body will adapt.
The purpose of this blog is to provide some of the scientific background behind training at higher altitude. Here we go…Your body needs oxygen to survive. When you are at higher altitudes, there is a smaller percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere compared to sea level. Therefore, there is less oxygen uptake with each breathe. Hemoglobin in the blood transports oxygen to the working muscles. At higher altitudes, the hemoglobin molecules are not saturated (filled) with oxygen molecules. Because of this, your body signals your heart to beat faster, so the oxygen can circulate to your muscles (working organs) quicker. In addition, your ventilation (breathing) rate increases to try to get more oxygen into your system. This is why you feel your heart beating faster and you breathe heavier when you travel to higher altitudes.
Individuals adapt to high altitudes by producing more hemoglobin molecules, which equals more transporters of the oxygen molecules circulating through your blood. Therefore, you control your heart rate and ventilation rate better.
Train Hard-Train Smart
www.asap-pt.com
I liked it. So much useful material. I read with great interest.
Very enjoyed this! Well done!