This Is What Happens To Your Body At High Altitudes

People say they get drunker on airplanes, but it's not the alcohol -- it's the altitude. Why is that? What exactly does altitude do to the body?



Read More:
The Claim: You Get Drunk Faster at High Altitudes
"At the national convention last week in the mile-high city of Denver, the New York State Democratic Party warned delegates about the potential effects of drinking alcohol there. 'Remember that drinks may go to your head faster than you're used to in New York,' it said."

Into Thin Air: Weight Loss in High Altitudes
"In addition to a lack of oxygen, there may be another reason it's called thin air-researchers have been exploring the relationship between weight loss and high altitudes."

Everest: What Happens To Your Body 29,029 Feet Above Sea Level
"What is it like to stand on top of the world? Nothing short of exhilarating, say those who've made it to the top of Mount Everest's summit 29,029 feet above sea level, at the cruising altitude of a 747. The spectacular view aside, part of what makes the experience so exhilarating is that getting there is no walk in the park."
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[qqq]

If I climbed Everest I'd bring a step ladder with me so I could get a few feet higher than anyone else who's been up there.

[tesshess]

Why do people have a fav host for DNews?? I friggin love all of them. Keep up your awesome work guys!

[andrewtruax]

There’s still roughly 21% oxygen at the bottom of the atmosphere. Additionally, there is still roughly 21% oxygen at 60, 000’, and 30, 000’. The ratio of oxygen is the same at any altitude you fly at. At altitude, it’s the lack of air pressure makes it difficult for the air in your lungs to be forced through the alveoli (small sacs that convey oxygen to your blood). This result deprives your blood of sufficient oxygen. Again, not because there’s “less oxygen”, but because the pressure is too little to force the oxygen through the thin wall sacs of the alveoli within your lungs, which as a result, causes a lack of oxygen in your blood. This lack of oxygen in the blood deprives the brain of adequate oxygen resulting in, what is known
as, hypoxic hypoxia.

[Master_Therion]

When I'm on an airplane ride I don't feel very different except for my pride and ego. It is then that I realize most people are beneath me.

[johnnie]

Hey AST, we meet again! I'm a pilot and everything you said in this clip is right on, but a mention to smokers would show they are more vulnerable to altitude sickness.

I would like you guys to do a video on the effects of the "Carolina Reaper." It's a hot pepper to die for. I want to know why our brain says it's hot, but it has no effect on birds for seed dispersal.


Johnnie

[jakestein]

An atmosphere of pressure and a BAR are not the same. A BAR is slightly lower.

[gcwarkenyout]

I love your videos, guys, and this one was neat as usual! But I have a little criticism to make.
I don't mind if you use imperial units as long as the metric equivalent is indicated visually on the screen, like you did at 1:20, that was just right. But after that (like at around 2:20), I had to keep pausing the video and googling the conversion to grasp the altitude you were referring to, and it is quite distracting...
I believe you have a lot of non-american subs, remembering we don't use imperial would just make me like your channel even more =D

[shirazkhan]

Thanks for sharing such knowledgeable content. Keep it up.

[KillerIceStorm]

Good job Amy, this is so natural for you.

[leakycheese]

I was having a hefty dose of altitude sickness when I got to Gilman's Point on Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was quite a trippy experience taking in the incredible view while feeling somewhat floaty.

[RolyPoly]

That description (hypoxia) of what happens when oneself cannot breath happens when oneself faints, also. It is an incredibly, terrifying experience; It has happened to me, and some times it's worse than other times.

[BoogaMinecraft]

I thought what happened is if you go too high, and the if the air in the cabin were somehow to become the same as outside, you start to feel loopy because of _that;_ because you have no oxygen.

[patrickm]

The first time I flew on a plane as a kid there was an issue with the pressure in the cabin. When landing pressure was still at the same level it was at 30, 000 feet, I thought my ears were going to start bleeding from how bad it hurt lol. When the doors opened there was a rush of air in the plane

[soldadoamrani]

Do a video about what happens to ur body when living on mountains and/or hills.

[alanaquattro]

I live at 9, 000 ft in a mountain town in Colorado and go skiing all the time, and getting drunk faster is NOT the furthest thing from my mind. It's awesome.

[NicKtheGreeK]

The moment this was uploaded I was heading for mountain Olympus. Not such a huge altitude to be exact but spectacular nevertheless :)

[BlahBlah-olxw]

Thanks for sharing. Love your bangs. So cute 😍

[er]

grew up on 5600 ft went to 8000 ft regularly for hot water springs never got sick or tired i moved to the uk and i get a headache every time i take in two or three deep breaths maybe your body is designed for sea level mine isn't

[pauljrcarty]

One thing I've noticed is a stereotype about muscles in high altitude. At ground level muscular folk are usually unnatural and do little to no cardio. Most training will lead to muscle growth which is a good thing is training is proper. Larger muscles with stronger cardio depletes circulatory issues and assists in storing oxygen in larger reservoirs. This fitness can not be achieved in 2 or 3 years. Never tested but a larger climber with that fitness might be a little slower but might be able to go on longer than an average client high up on the mountain

[TVinmyEye]

I hiked to the top of Mt Whitney which is a 14, 500 (4, 400 meters) foot Mountain in the Sierra nevadas. At around 11, 500 feet I started to feel sick AF felt like i was getting constant head rushes. I acclimated a day later tho. Id do it all over again