the higher the altitude, the lower the oxygen level in air. climbers of very tall mountains risk altitude sickness, which is an illness characterized by shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, and confusion. the early symptoms of cyanide poisoning are the same as those for altitude sickness. cyanide binds tightly to cytochrome c oxidase, the protein that reduces oxygen molecules in the final step of mitochondrial electron transfer chains. cytochrome c oxidase with bound cyanide can no longer transfer electrons. explain why cyanide poisoning starts with the same symptoms as altitude sickness.

Altitude sickness, also called mountain sickness, is a group of general symptoms that are brought on by climbing or walking to a higher and higher altitude (elevation) too quickly. It happens because the body doesn’t have enough time to adapt to the lower air pressure and lower oxygen level in the air at high altitudes. This article reviews symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of altitude sickness.

Two reasons:

First, if the atmospheric pressure is low enough the lungs won't be able to produce adequate suction to inhale enough air to survive.

Second, oxygen is dense, gases like nitrogen will be in higher concentration than normal due to boyancy, reducing the amount of oxygen per breath.

If you look at the physiology of people who live on mountains, they tend to have stronger lungs and /or are capable on function with less oxygen.

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