What Happens as We Rise

Altitude, pressure changes, and the body's search for equilibrium

Whenever I feel overwhelmed, when life’s weight presses on me, I’ve always found comfort in climbing 300–500 meters up and embracing the sky. I would like to talk about the way our baroreceptors behave at higher altitudes. At sea level, atmospheric pressure is one atmosphere, but as you climb mountains, the pressure gradually begins to drop—starting roughly around one thousand meters. As altitude increases, atmospheric pressure decreases; as a result, the level of oxygen entering the lungs begins to fall. To compensate, the human body first increases the heart rate. The heart beats faster to deliver blood and oxygen to the tissues.

At higher altitudes, you may feel a mild sense of intoxication due to reduced oxygen in the brain. If you stay in the mountains for a longer time, your body compensates for this change in pressure by increasing the number of erythrocytes—red blood cells that carry oxygen. More oxygen carriers mean more oxygen delivered to the tissues. Once this adaptation completes, palpitations diminish.

For this reason, when climbing mountains, certain altitude levels require what we call decompression or acclimatization time. Around 1500–2000 meters, pausing to let the body adjust to the pressure change is important. Suddenly climbing to 3000–5000 meters is not advisable. With age, this adaptation becomes even more difficult; increased heart rate and circulation can raise blood pressure and even lead to risks such as nosebleeds or cerebral hemorrhages.

In my view, short ascents and small climbs are like little tests designed to measure how well humans adapt to nature. When you climb 300–500 meters, observing how your heart rate and circulation change—and then noticing how your body returns to normal as you descend—is a valuable experience. It is similar to stepping into a cold shower or performing a stress test during an ECG: a chance to witness how the body adapts when its tempo increases.

As long as the altitudes are not too high and no medical risks are present, mild elevation changes and short hikes can offer strong support for the body, the mind, and the spirit—especially when dealing with physical issues, small discomforts, or psychological challenges.

For this reason, I hope you notice how even slight altitude changes and gentle climbs can help your body and spirit heal—and I welcome you to my YouTube channel.