If you see the docudrama Everest this weekend in theaters, you might gain a new appreciation for the courage of mountain-climbers. But we think the incredible human body is the real hero.
When they reach the top of Everest (a height of 29,029 feet or 8,484 metres), climbers will have faced a myriad of physical obstacles including avalanches, falling rocks, whiteouts, shifting ice, and crevasse falls. But the physiological challenges are just as, if not more, dangerous.
The relentless weather conditions can cause a laundry list of illnesses: pneumonia, frostbite, Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), severe exhaustion and dehydration, and psychological damages from witnessing other climbers get injured or die. One of the primary causes of death, however, is lack of oxygen.
SEE ALSO: Lactic Acid Doesn't Cause Muscle Pain
At moderate elevations, the lack of oxygen causes many climbers to experience headaches and shortness of breath. Fortunately, the body knows how to handle itself — it compensates by producing more red blood cells which contain hemoglobin — an iron-rich protein. Hemoglobin helps return all body functions to normal by enhancing oxygen delivery from the lungs to all others parts of the body. It also carries carbon dioxide from other parts of the body to the lungs so it can be exhaled. However, at higher altitudes and lower oxygen concentrations, the body isn’t as adept. The symptoms are exacerbated resulting in loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, and insomnia.
As climbers continue to ascend Everest, oxygen becomes scarcer. If you’ve ever felt lightheaded after blowing up a balloon, imagine that sensation with an added 35 pounds of gear and merciless weather conditions— that may give you an idea of the struggles Everest climbers face with each step. In fact, the oxygen levels at the top are only a third of the concentrations at sea level. At elevations above 26,000 feet (8,000 m), which is known as the “death zone,” humans cannot survive for any length of time without the help of oxygen masks.
Without the aid of an oxygen mask, the body will compensate by increasing blood flow to the brain. This, however, can prove to be extremely dangerous. At high altitudes, the brain can actually swell and cause blood vessels to leak, resulting in High Altitude Cerebral Edema, or HACE. HACE results in disorientation, hallucinations, and loss of consciousness. Likewise, High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) occurs when lung tissues swell, causing fluid to leak out of the bloodstream. This fluid produces shortness of breath and chest tightness as well as coughing and bloody sputum, a mixture of saliva and mucus. Both HAPE and HACE are potentially life-threatening conditions.
In order to minimize the risk associated with high altitude sicknesses, many climbers make several trips up and down the mountain to increasingly high elevation camps in order to adapt their bodies to the harsh conditions.
Individual susceptibility for altitude sicknesses varies greatly, whether or not the climber has made an effort to acclimatize to the conditions with a slow ascent. Even individuals who are extremely physically fit can fall victim to the daunting trials of Everest. Today, more people than ever are trying to climb the mountain, but only about one in four will succeed. It’s estimated that about 120 bodies remain on Everest, and while some have been respectfully relocated, others are in places that are too dangerous to reach.
But with its danger comes its beauty. The adventurous souls who take on the ambitious task of climbing Everest do so to experience the majesty and mystery that it beholds. Surviving one of the world’s most dangerous climbs can teach people a lot about themselves and push them to new personal limits. But the trials of Everest cannot be overcome without knowing how your body will change with each step up.
Facebook comments