Body as a physiological system

In everyday life we rarely think of our body as a self-regulating system. Most of the time we are only conscious of our physiology when there is a need (hunger or thirst), when we enjoy something (consuming alcohol or smoking cigarettes), or when there is something wrong with the body (pain or other symptoms of disease). High-altitude conditions force us to think of our body as an interconnected system where any deviation from the norm can have consequences that might get in the way of normal functioning of the body and reaching your goals.

I will start with the well-known fact that oxygen concentration in the air in high-altitude conditions is lower. The molar mass of oxygen is 32 g/mol, nitrogen – 28 g/mol, so the greater the distance from the Earth’s surface, the fewer heavier oxygen molecules necessary for biological processes can be found in the atmosphere due to the influence of gravity, while the number of inert nitrogen molecules increases. The concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere depending on the altitude decreases almost linearly. This relationship is shown in a table comparing different heights and oxygen concentration levels.

Significantly lower amounts of oxygen in the atmosphere cause bodily responses of which the most well-known are: shortness of breath, drowsiness even after light exercise, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting. Practically the only way to manage them is gradual adaptation of the body to high-altitude conditions, or acclimatization. It is for this purpose that Kilimanjaro tourist routes have been created, where each subsequent camp is located a little higher up the mountain, so the body adapts to lower levels of oxygen concentration every day. The guides also diligently trained us every afternoon making us climb at least 200 m above the camp level. Even such short hikes allow the body to realize that it could be worse and it should be happy with the amount of oxygen available during rest in the tent.

Above the altitude of three thousand metres barely any living creatures can be found, these birds were the only members of the fauna that we managed to spot.

The easiest way to try to manage oxygen deficiency is to breathe very deeply and move very smoothly and evenly. How well the body adapts to high-altitude conditions is determined by both training and genetics. It was quite difficult for me to adapt and I experienced the first serious crisis early, during the evening training on the second day. We left the camp at a relatively fast pace and after a few hundred metres I was already short of breath, my head was spinning and it seemed that I would not be able to take even one more step. Stanford, being an experienced guide, assessed the situation and did not allow me to turn back, only slowed down the pace of the climb, it helped me recover and finish the training with my dignity intact. However, when later, during the evening medical examination, I told the group leader, Elia, about it, he immediately ordered me to take altitude sickness prevention medication.

Medical examinations of all members of the team were performed twice a day. Elia questioned us about both our well-being, which had to be rated on a scale of 1 to 10 as well as about specific symptoms. Heart rate and blood oxygen levels were measured each time, and all results, as well as effects of prescribed medicine, were summarized in medical charts. Although Elia was not a doctor, his training as a high-altitude guide apparently included the basics of human physiology and first aid. Whatever the case, we felt safe as our care was thorough.

Special mention goes out to Elia’s medical bag that was always with him (including when climbing to the very top of the mountain) and where he could find medication for various even less common ailments. For example, after conquering the summit, my body was so overworked that my stomach rebelled and started to release a huge amount of acid, which, obviously, made it very difficult to hike. Searching in his bag for a moment, Elia pulled out a brown pill and, indeed, after fifteen minutes all unpleasant symptoms disappeared.

Breathing and adequate oxygen levels are undoubtedly the most important factors in ensuring the body’s ability to function but just as important is water. The guides advised us to try to consume at least four litres of fluid a day in various forms – water, tea and soups. This is significantly more than under normal circumstances, but you have to keep in mind that biological processes in the highlands are about twice as fast as in the plains. We drank water while staying in camps as well as during the hikes.

In the lower camps of Kilimanjaro there were streams with very clean water used for cooking and household purposes. The water that went into our drinking containers was treated with a small amount of antibacterial chemicals to completely eliminate the possibility of any harmful bacteria entering our digestive system. 

Alcohol was completely banned for the duration of the climb and our group complied. As a matter of fact, there was no desire to drink at all. The guides also recommended not drinking coffee. No one in our group smoked and neither did the guides. Elia emphasized that smoking definitely impairs the body’s ability to function in high-altitude conditions and reduces the likelihood of reaching the top.

Meals deserve a special mention. Every day the chef Justin provided us with three hot meals, which the waiter Ezekiel served us with no small amount of panache in the social tent. Breakfast always included porridge with fruit or jam, an omelette, toast and pancakes. For lunch and dinner we were served soup, vegetable salad, meat or fish with potatoes or pasta. There was always fresh fruit at the end of lunch and dinner. The food was always freshly made from quality ingredients – we kept wondering how the chef managed to keep things like, for example, meat fresh for several days. In addition, amazingly clean dishes also helped to avoid digestive problems which would be very difficult to handle under these circumstances.

We enjoyed three balanced and delicious meals a day.

 

According to my rough estimation I consumed at least 4,000 kilocalories every day, which is one and a half times more than under normal circumstances but all the energy was also spent right there on the mountain. When I returned from Africa, upon weighing myself, I discovered that not only did I not gain any weight but had in fact lost about four percent of my body mass. 

Elia kept telling me, “You’re a heavy duty guy, you have to eat a lot to maintain your life force.” Our teammate Svetlana decided to use this hike as an opportunity to cut down on food intake and slim down a bit. Elia severely criticized the idea as soon as he noticed this. “You are here to fulfil your dream of reaching the summit”, he said. “To achieve this goal, your priority must be to maintain your body’s life force.”

An important factor in ensuring the body’s ability to function was getting proper rest. Before the climb, I was contemplating what we could be doing in the camps all day long, but in the actual mountain conditions I realized that every moment between hiking, evening training and eating should be used for lying down and relaxing. Fortunately, I have the ability to fall asleep almost instantly in practically any conditions, so I spent quite a lot of time restoring energy in my sleep.

Luckily, no one in the group had any health problems that would interfere with the body’s physiological processes in extreme high-altitude conditions, but I can imagine how troublesome exacerbations of certain chronic diseases or similar problems could be. When we left Kilimanjaro Park, we had to fill out a journal at the last camp and list the health problems we have suffered. All members of our team only reported extreme fatigue but it was interesting to read previous entries (personal data protection in Tanzania is still very underdeveloped). Many climbers complained of knee pain, back pain, internal pain and so on. Not to say that for a person with chronic health problems Kilimanjaro is an unattainable dream but everyone must understand that the burden on the body is enormous, so you should try to identify your weaknesses under less extreme conditions and explore ways to reduce their impact on the body’s overall capacity to function.