How does the body acclimate itself to high altitude?

Many changes: 1. You breath faster to compensate for the thinned density of oxygen. 2 body makes more oxygen carrying red cells at altitude 3. Kidneys put out more bicarbonate (sodium bicarbonate) to keep your acid base state adjusted. Your rapid breathing blows off carbon dioxide and your kidneys adjust for this change but it takes a few days to body to alter. There are medicines to speed this acclimatization.