Haemoglobin importance

Question

At high altitudes, explain whether it is important for the blood to have more or less haemoglobin?

Answer 1

At high altitudes, air is rarefied and concentration of oxygen is lower as compared to that at low altitudes. In such situation, respiratory system should have greater efficiency and therefore, the organism is required to synthesize more haemoglobin (and hence, more red blood cells) trying to get more oxygen. This mechanism is termed as compensatory “hyperglobulinemia”. The compensatory hyperglobulinemia is the major reason why athletes that compete at high altitudes need to reach the place few days before the event so that their body get enough time to make more red blood cells and they will get less affected through the effects of low concentration of atmospheric oxygen such as, reduced muscular strength, fatigue.