The unusually high erythrocyte levels of the scientist is due to his body acclimatizing to his seven-month stay in the Rocky Mountains. As we know, air pressure drops as altitude increases. Hence, at higher altitudes there is also a corresponding decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen. For instance, when compared to values at sea level, barometric pressure as well as oxygen levels available for respiration is only roughly 60% at altitudes of 4,000 m (West 790).
This explains why the scientist suffered from shortness of breath and seemed to tire more easily during his first few days in the mountains. Such symptoms are consistent with hypoxia, or the lack of oxygen available to the body (Answers Corporation “Hypoxia”). However, the fact that he no longer suffers from these symptoms after a few months has passed indicates that he has already acclimatized to his surroundings – meaning, his body has undergone physiologic changes to adapt to his more challenging environment (West 791).
The body’s primary response to the lack of oxygen would be to hyperventilate so as to try to increase the intake of oxygen, but long-term exposure to high-altitude conditions will also bring about similarly more long-term solutions to compensate for the low oxygen levels and would thus account for his increased erythrocyte levels. Erythrocytes or red blood cells are the components of blood that are responsible for transporting oxygen to the different parts of the body (Santa Barbara City College).
Due to the continual exposure to an environment that’s lacking in oxygen, the body therefore tries to overcome this by increasing the production of these oxygen-carrying cells, consequently elevating the blood’s capacity to transport the amount of oxygen required by the different organs of the body to function properly (Answers Corporation “Altitude”). We can expect however, for his erythrocyte levels to return to normal in time, that is, if he returns to his usual living environment.
Erythrocytes only have a life span of 120 days (Santa Barbara City College), and since elevated levels can cause complications such as increased blood viscosity and risk for blood clots (eMedicine), the body would likewise try to re-acclimatize him with his normal living conditions. If he however, returns to the Rockies to stay again for a long period then his erythrocyte levels will remain high as it would be necessary given the altitude.
Works Cited:
Answers Corporation. Answers. com Health : Altitude.2008. 2 Mar. 2008 < http://www. answers. com/topic/altitude? cat=health>. Answers Corporation. Answers. com Health : Hypoxia. 2008. 2 Mar. 2008 <http://www. answers. com/topic/hypoxia? cat=health>. Santa Barbara City College Biological Sciences. Biology 100 Concepts of Biology : Cardiovascular System Review. 2003. 2 Mar. 2008 <http://www. biosbcc. net/b100cardio/htm/blood. htm>. West, John B. “The Physiologic Basis of High-Altitude Diseases. ” Annals of Internal Medicine 141. 10 (2004): 789-800.