People living at lower altitudes have difficulty adjusting to the cold and to the reduced atmospheric pressure and therefore less oxygen at these altitudes. Lung capacitiesA low altitude dweller, when taken to high altitudes, shows a 25-30% increase in basal metabolic rate, which is the calories you burn while remaining in bed all day. High-altitude-adapted Tibetans and Andeans have the same normal basal metabolic rate at high altitudes as other people on their home grounds. The FVC is 15% higher in men, and 9% higher in women adapted to higher altitudes. For all the hardships associated with living at high altitudes, there may be some compensatory benefits too.

Source: The Hindu June 11, 2023 04:38 UTC