This book is directly derived from a NATO-sponsored international meeting on problems of high altitude medicine and biology, which was held on the shores of lake of Issyk-Kul, in Kyrghyzstan, in June 5-6, 2006. The meeting was remarkable by several aspects. The participants enjoyed the beauty of the blue waters of this 1610 m high sacred lake, with stunning view on the Tien Shan mountain range at a distance, and, most of all, the wonderful Kyrghyz hospitality and friendship. It was a surprise for several European and North and South-American scientists to discover the still on-going momentum high level altitude physiology research, which was extremely active but insufficiently acknowledged in this remote Central Asian country at the time of the USSR. Accordingly, the setting was perfect for numerous positive scientific interactions, exchanges of ideas, and structuring of new international collaborations. Overall, the meeting was an ideal mix of cell biology, integrative physiology and medical applications. Thanks to the efforts of both English and Russian speaking scientist participants, this comes out very well in this book. Hypoxia is and remains a major public health issue in many populated mountainous areas all over the world. We are sure that this book will be become a long-lasting essential reference.

The lungs play a pivotal role in adaptation to high altitude. The increase in ventilation and the rise in pulmonary artery pressure are the first features of lung response to hypoxic exposure. At high altitude the lungs can also be affected by high-altitude pulmonary oedema, a severe form of acute mountain sickness. In healthy subjects the ascent to high altitude is also associated with alterations in lung function, which have been in part interpreted as an effect of extra vascular lung fluid accumulation. The patterns of respiratory function changes at high altitude are discussed, taking into account the body fluid movement and the increase in endothelial permeability induced by hypoxic exposure. As the problem of “respiratory” patients at high altitude is very important, a short summary of the guidelines for altitude exposure of asthmatic and COPD patients is reported at the end of the chapter.

The lungs play a pivotal role in adaptation to high altitude. The increase in ventilation and the rise in pulmonary artery pressure are the first features of lung response to hypoxic exposure. At high altitude the lungs can also be affected by high-altitude pulmonary oedema, a severe form of acute mountain sickness. In healthy subjects the ascent to high altitude is also associated with alterations in lung function, which have been in part interpreted as an effect of extra vascular lung fluid accumulation. The patterns of respiratory function changes at high altitude are discussed, taking into account the body fluid movement and the increase in endothelial permeability induced by hypoxic exposure. As the problem of “respiratory” patients at high altitude is very important, a short summary of the guidelines for altitude exposure of asthmatic and COPD patients is reported at the end of the chapter.