Page 244 - Allah's Miracles in the Qur'an

Allah's Miracles in the Qur'an

Human beings need oxygen and air pressure in order to live.
Breathing is made possible by the oxygen in the atmosphere reach-
ing the air sacs in our lungs. As elevation rises, however, atmos-

pheric pressure goes down as the atmosphere becomes thinner.
Therefore, the amount of oxygen entering the blood stream
declines and it becomes harder to breathe. As the air sacs grow nar-
row and contract, we feel as if we cannot breathe.
If the amount of oxygen in the blood is less than the body
needs, several symptoms emerge: extreme fatigue, headaches,

dizziness, nausea, and loss of judgement. When a certain height is
reached, it finally becomes impossible for a human being to
breathe at all. 186 This is why we need oxygen bottles and special
clothing in order to survive at such elevations.

242