When it comes to respiration how does the human body adapt to living in high altitudes?

Question

When it comes to respiration how does the human body adapt to living in high altitudes?

Answer 1

One adaptation that arose among populations in mountainous areas has been an increase in lung size.  People living in the highlands of the Andes typically have larger lungs than lowlanders.  This doesn't mean the lungs of a lowlander would increase in size if they went up a mountain.  However, the effect could occur among their descendants if they stay up there over the generations.

Answer 2

I believe that you red blood cell count increases thus increasing the amount of oxygen that can be taken into your body and carried around.  Thats why runners train that high, so when they are lower they have an advantage.

Answer 3

the problem with higher altitudes is that theres less oxygen. so what the body does when there's less oxygen is makes tons of extra blood cells so that more oxygen can get to your brain and other parts of the body. its a proccess that takes only a couple weeks to a month depending on how large of an elevation change takes place.