Who has a bigger problem adapting someone traveling from low to high elevation, or from high to low elevation?

Question

Who has a bigger problem adapting someone traveling from low to high elevation, or from high to low elevation?

Answer 1

I moved from Panama City Beach, FL to Denver, CO and then back to sea level in Italy. I didn't find either move particularly difficult physically, but would say adjustment to higher altitude was a little more noticeable. Actually, going to Denver, I had more difficulty with the low humidity than the altitude. I still get nosebleeds for the first day or so when I go back.

The altitude affected me more when I went up into the mountains (Mt Evans or the other 14ers).

Answer 2

low to high because when you drink you get way more waisted plus its harder to breath

Answer 3

Low to high b/c of the lower oxygen content. Someone going from the mountains to sea level faces greater atmospheric pressure and greater O2 content in the air, neither of which require the body to do any real adjusting.

Answer 4

From my experience, going from a low elevation to a high elevation is harder.  That's why when you climb mountains there is usually an overnight stop part way up, but not going back down. You body needs time to acclimate to the thinner air, but adopts faster to thicker air when you go back down.

(I have climbed Mt. Fuji in Japan - back when I was stationed there while in the Navy, as well as some smaller mountains back in the USA.)

Zeba

http://www.JigsawADay.com