Page 71 - The Miracle of the Blood and Heart

Blood: The Incomparable
Liquid of Life

tionists have not yet accounted for the origin of the myoglo-
bin, which they claim came to form hemoglobin.

Red Blood Cells Determine Needs

Red blood cells are seemingly aware of the importance of
what they do. They constantly travel through the body, iden-
tify needs and take precautions when they encounter any sit-
uation out of the ordinary. For example, they deposit oxygen
when they pass by a hard-working tissue in need of it. They
transfer the requisite oxygen to that tissue, pick up the carbon
dioxide given off from the oxidation of sugar—the body's
basic nutrient—carry the carbon dioxide to the lungs, where
they again bind oxygen.
In this exchange, there is a very delicate equilibrium
whose details have already been touched on. Wherever there
is a need for oxygen, that is where the red blood cells go. They
also determine whether there is a need for more red blood
cells in the body. The importance of this regulation is crucial.
By means of this most careful regulation, your cells and thus,
the structures in your body are kept from dying from oxygen
starvation.
The changes taking place in your body when you climb a
high mountain are also the result of this regulation. The reason
is that the higher you go, the harder it is to obtain oxygen. The
atmosphere is 21% oxygen, which is more concentrated at
lower elevations, due to the higher air pressure. Your lungs
will initially have difficulty in adapting to a thinner air. As
you ascend, you will become increasingly lethargic,
unable to walk, tired and even faint. That is because

Adnan
Oktar

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