People who have migrated from the planes to an area adjoining Rohtang Pass about six months back

People who have migrated from the planes to an area adjoining Rohtang Pass about six months back
  1. have more RBCs and their haemoglobin has a lower binding affinity to $\mathrm{O}_2$
  2. are not physically fit to play games like football
  3. suffer from altitude sickness with symptoms like nausea, fatigue, etc.
  4. have the usual RBC count but their haemoglobin has very high binding affinuty to $\mathrm{O}_2$

Solution

As a person moves up a hill the $p \mathrm{O}_2$ and total atmospheric pressure decreases. Decrease in $p \mathrm{O}_2$ due to increasing altitude, stimulates the JG-cells of kidney to secrete erythropoietin hormone, increasing the number of RBCs (polycythemia) to compensate the supply of $\mathrm{O}_2$. At higher altitude, haemoglobin has lower binding affinity to $\mathrm{O}_2$ because the primary factor responsible for binding is $p_2$, which decreases at higher altitude.

Asked in: NEET 2012 (Screening)

Practice more Body Fluids and Circulation questions on Aicharya