When climbing a mountain: 1) The cardiovascular control center activates the sympathetic nervous system, increasing heart rate and blood flow to working muscles. 2) Increased breathing and muscle pumping improves venous return, increasing stroke volume and cardiac output. 3) Blood flow shifts from other organs to the skeletal muscles and heart. When reaching high altitudes: 1) Decreased oxygen causes arterial chemoreceptors to increase breathing rate, restoring blood oxygen levels. 2) Increased ventilation lowers carbon dioxide levels, causing hypocapnia. Symptoms of high altitude sickness include cyanosis, nausea, headaches, breathlessness, fatigue, and increased blood pressure. Treatments include supplemental oxygen through ventil