Even people far from mountaineering and diving know that it becomes difficult for a person to breathe under certain conditions. This phenomenon is associated with a change in the partial pressure of oxygen in the environment, as a result, in the blood of a person himself.
Mountain sickness
When a resident of a lowland comes on vacation to the mountains, it seems that the air there is especially clean and simply impossible to breathe.
In fact, such reflex urges for frequent and deep breathing are caused by hypoxia. In order for a person to equalize the partial pressure of oxygen in the alveolar air, he needs to ventilate his own lungs as best as possible the first time. Of course, being in the mountains for several days or weeks, the body begins to get used to new conditions by adjusting the work of internal organs. So the situation is saved by the kidneys, which begin to secrete bicarbonate to enhance ventilation and increase the number of red blood cells in the blood that can carry more oxygen.
Thus, in highlands, hemoglobin levels are always higher than in plains.
Acute form
Depending on the characteristics of the body, the rate of partial oxygen pressure may differ for each person at a certain age, state of health or simply from the ability to acclimatize. That is why not everyone is destined to conquer the peaks, because even having a great desire, a person is not able to completely subjugate his body to himself and make him work differently.
Very often, untrained climbers with high-speed climb can develop various symptoms of hypoxia. At an altitude of less than 4.5 km, they are manifested by headaches, nausea, fatigue and a sharp change in mood, since a lack of oxygen in the blood strongly affects the functioning of the nervous system. If such symptoms are ignored, then edema of the brain or lungs will form in the future, each of which can lead to death.
Thus, it is strictly forbidden to ignore the change in the partial pressure of oxygen in the environment, because it always affects the performance of the entire human body.
Submersion under water
When a diver plunges into conditions where atmospheric pressure is below the usual level, his body also encounters a kind of acclimatization. The partial pressure of oxygen at sea level is average and with immersion also changes, but nitrogen is of particular danger to humans in this case. On the surface of the earth in flat terrain, it does not affect people, but after every 10 meters of immersion it gradually shrinks and provokes various degrees of anesthesia in the diver's body. The first signs of such a violation can occur even after 37 meters under water, especially if a person spends at a depth for a long time.
When atmospheric pressure exceeds 8 atmospheres, and this indicator is reached after 70 meters under water, divers begin to feel nitrogen anesthesia. This phenomenon is manifested by a sensation of alcoholic intoxication, which violates the coordination and attentiveness of the submariner.
To avoid the consequences
In the case when the partial pressure of oxygen and other gases in the blood is deviated from the norm and the diver begins to feel signs of intoxication, it is very important to lift it as slowly as possible. This is due to the fact that with a sharp change in pressure, nitrogen diffusion provokes the appearance of bubbles in the blood with this substance. In simple terms, the blood seems to boil, and the person begins to feel severe pain in the joints. In the future, he may develop visual, hearing and nervous system disorders, which are called decompression sickness. To avoid this phenomenon, the diver should be raised very slowly or nitrogen should be replaced with helium in his breathing mixture. This gas is less soluble, has a lower mass and density, so the cost of external respiration is reduced.
If a similar situation has occurred, then the person must urgently be put back into the environment with high pressure and wait for a gradual decompression, which can last up to several days.
The partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood
In order for the gas composition of the blood to change, it is not necessary to conquer the peaks or go down to the seabed. Various pathologies of the cardiovascular, urinary and respiratory systems are also able to influence the change in gas pressure in the main fluid of the human body.
To accurately determine the diagnosis, patients undergo appropriate tests. Most often, doctors are interested in the partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide, since they provide full breathing of all human organs.
Pressure in this case is a process of gas dissolution, which shows how efficiently oxygen works in the body and whether its performance complies with the norms.
The slightest deviations indicate that the patient has deviations that affect the ability to use the gases entering the body to the maximum.
Pressure standards
The rate of partial pressure of oxygen in the blood is a relative term, since it can vary depending on many factors. In order to correctly determine your diagnosis and receive treatment, with the results of the tests, you must contact a specialist who is able to take into account all the individual characteristics of the patient. Of course, there are reference standards that are considered ideal for a healthy adult. So, in the patient’s blood without deviations there is:
- carbon dioxide in an amount of 44.5-52.5%;
- its pressure is 35-45 mm RT. st .;
- liquid saturation with oxygen 95-100%;
- O 2 in an amount of 10.5-14.5%;
- partial pressure of oxygen in the blood 80-110 mm RT. Art.
In order for the results to correspond to reality during the analysis, it is necessary to take into account a number of factors that can affect their correctness.
Patient dependent abnormalities
The partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood can change very quickly depending on various circumstances, therefore, in order for the analysis result to be as accurate as possible, the following features should be taken into account:
- the rate of pressure always decreases with increasing age of the patient;
- during subcooling, oxygen pressure and carbon dioxide pressure decrease, and the pH level increases;
- when overheating, the situation is the opposite;
- the actual indicator of the partial pressure of gases will be visible only when blood is taken from a patient with a body temperature within normal limits (36.6-37 degrees).
Reasons for abnormalities depending on health workers
In addition to taking into account such characteristics of the patient’s body, specialists must also comply with certain standards for the correctness of the results. First of all, the presence of air bubbles in the syringe affects the partial pressure of oxygen. In general, any analysis contact with ambient air can change the results. It is also important that after blood sampling, carefully mix it in a container so that red blood cells do not settle on the bottom of the tube, which can also affect the results of the analysis, showing hemoglobin level.
It is very important to adhere to the norms of time allotted for the analysis. According to the rules, all actions should be carried out within a quarter of an hour after the fence, and if this time is not enough, then the container with blood should be placed in ice water. This is the only way to stop the process of oxygen consumption by blood cells.
Specialists should also calibrate the analyzer in a timely manner and take analyzes only with syringes with dry heparin, which is electrolytically balanced and does not affect the acidity of the sample.
Test results
As already clear, the partial pressure of oxygen in the air can have a noticeable effect on the human body, but the level of gas pressure in the blood can be disturbed for other reasons. To determine them correctly, decryption should be trusted only to an experienced specialist who is able to take into account all the features of each patient.
In any case, a decrease in oxygen pressure level will indicate hypoxia. A change in blood pH, like carbon dioxide pressure or a change in bicarbonate levels, may indicate acidosis or alkalosis.
Acidosis is a process of acidification of the blood and is characterized by an increase in carbon dioxide pressure, a decrease in the pH level of blood and bicarbonates. In the latter case, the diagnosis will be voiced as metabolic acidosis.
Alkalosis is an increase in blood alkalinity. It will be indicated by increased pressure of carbon dioxide, an increase in the number of bicarbonates, and, consequently, a change in the pH level of the blood.
Conclusion
The health of the body is affected not only by good nutrition and physical activity. Each person gets used to certain climatic conditions of life, in which he feels as comfortable as possible. Their change provokes not only poor health, but also a complete change in certain blood parameters. To determine the diagnosis based on them, you should carefully select a specialist and monitor compliance with all standards for the collection of tests.