why red blood cells account increase in number when altitude increase

Question: why red blood cells account increase in number when altitude increase
- Keywords:
  blood,
  cells
Asked by chat20fen to Sally, Mmboyi, Mike, Michael, Jacinta, Gliday, Elkana, Edna, Arnold on 16 Jul 2025.
- Gliday Yuka answered on 16 Jul 2025:
  
  When you go to higher altitudes, like climbing a mountain, the air has less oxygen. Your body notices this and makes more red blood cells to carry extra oxygen to your muscles and organs, helping you stay energized.
  
  It’s like your body saying, “We need more workers to deliver oxygen!” This happens because a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO) tells your bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. For example, athletes(like our champions athletes in Kenya) train at high altitudes to boost their oxygen-carrying power.