If you teleported from sea level to the top of Mount Everest, things would go bad fast. At an altitude of 8,848 meters, you would likely suffocate in minutes. However, for people that make this journey over the course of a month, it's possible to survive at the peak for hours. So what happens in our bodies that allows us to endure this incredible altitude? Andrew Lovering investigates. [Directed by Vitalii Nebelskyi, and action creative agency, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio].

Andrew Lovering: How high altitude affects your body

How high altitude affects your body

Ascending too quickly to high altitudes can trigger AMS, causing headaches and nausea, but gradual acclimatization allows survival.

At 1,500 meters, our bodies begin to adapt to less oxygen by increasing breathing and heart rate, crucial for high-altitude survival.

Ascending too quickly to high altitudes can lead to severe health risks, yet gradual acclimatization allows the body to adapt safely.