What Else Stresses The Respiratory System?

A few minutes ago we mentioned that exercise isn't the only thing that stresses your respiratory system. Anything that gives your body less oxygen to work with will influence how well your body functions. Fortunately, the human body is highly adaptable.Altitude greatly affects your respiratory system because at higher elevations the air contains less oxygen. If you've ever taken a trip to the mountains and felt tired, that's why !Your system is getting a lot less oxygen than the amount it's used to getting. At about 3,900 feet the body starts to make changes to compensate for this lack of oxygen. At first, your rate of ventilation increases this happen at rest as well as during exercise. Although your muscle strength is relatively unaffected, your heart also adapts to the reduced levels of oxygen, increasing its output anywhere from 30 percent to 50 percent.