This article critically reviews literature on altitude-dependent lung function impacts, focusing on China's Hengduan Mountains. The unique altitude gradient of the Hengduan Mountains influences respiratory function significantly, hence its importance for study. The introduction acknowledges global research on lung function at high altitudes and highlights the Hengduan Mountains' geographical uniqueness. High altitudes lead to increased ventilation, pulmonary artery pressure, and altered lung volumes, as observed in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. These effects, however, vary across populations, necessitating more research in the Hengduan region. The review acknowledges that altitude and exposure duration proportionally affect lung function, with metrics like forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) decreasing with altitude. Similar impacts are anticipated in the Hengduan Mountains, necessitating more comprehensive studies. The article recognizes genetic variations across populations and their potential role in high altitude physiological responses. Studying the diverse ethnic groups in the Hengduan Mountains, including the Yi, Lisu, and Tibetans, is crucial as their altitude responses may vary. The introduction concludes by emphasizing the need for more Hengduan Mountains research. Such studies could deepen our understanding of high-altitude physiology and guide interventions to protect high-altitude residents.

Yunyan Zeng, Yongqiu Duan, Dongqu Zou, Zhiming Zhu, Lingling Dong. The Impact of Different Altitudes on Lung Function in the Hengduan Mountains in Southwest China. International Journal of Frontiers in Medicine (2023), Vol. 5, Issue 9: 91-95. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJFM.2023.050915.

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