Question: people living at sea level have around 5 x 106...
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People living at sea level have around 5 x 106 red blood cells per mm3 of their blood whereas those living at high altitude (>4000 metres) have around 8 x 106 red blood cells. This is because at high altitude blood hypoxia leads to an increase in erythropoietin (EPO) secretion by the kidneys and a corresponding increase in the numbers of red blood cells per ml of blood. As a consequence, their blood viscosity also increases. How would this increase in viscosity potentially affect the blood flow and blood pressure in people living at high altitude?
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