116 CultureShock! Bolivia
This sounds scary, especially with the shortening of breath
and heart pounding that one may feel upon arrival when
walking uphill. But eventually, almost everyone adapts to the
altitude. “One’s lungs may grow a little,” explained Dr Zubieta
Jr, “but increased effi ciency actually comes from using parts
of the lungs that have been lazy or resting.”
Other Bolivian doctors say that a condition they call
polyglobulia, (an increase in red blood cells), provides
additional oxygen capacity. But while some doctors say
polyglobulia is a sickness, others insist that the body is simply
compensating for oxygen defi ciency.
Reliable statistics show that altitude diminishes the
performance of low altitude football teams. But there are
numerous examples of lowland teams that win international
tournaments in La Paz.
The Bolivian University’s Institute of Altitude Biology
(IBBA) has since found that the loss of aerobic power due to
altitude of the visiting team was not enough to give the local
team a signifi cant advantage.