High Altitude Sickness
I am writing this article about the cause and treatment of high altitude sickness for those who hold the hobby of mountain hiking and desire to stand atop Mount Everest.
Atmospheric pressure results due to the pulling of gas molecules by earth’s gravity. Air at a certain level is compressed by the weight of air above it. Therefore, the air pressure at high altitude has less pressure because less air is pushed down from above that leads to a lowering in air density. There are fewer oxygen molecules available even though the air has still 21% oxygen by composition
While climbing high altitudes, the availability of oxygen falls and body responds the condition by increasing the blood flow to the brain. It can overcompensate and the fluid leaks from the blood vessel into the brain causing it to swell which results in Acute Mountain Sickness to severe swelling condition called High Altitude Cerebral Edema. In some bad cases, the brain gets squeezed out down the spinal cord and then one dies. This is called as “Herniation syndrome”. Acute Mountain Sickness can be treated by using diuretics and a plenty of water.
Mountaineer may get flu like symptoms at high point and surprisingly get better after head down. This illness is caused by building up of fluids in the lungs a condition known as Pulmonary Edema. It is a result of increase in the flow of blood through the lungs as the body tries to get as much oxygen as possible to fulfill high oxygen demand. Heart increases the flow by increasing the pressure causing leakage from the blood vessels into the air sacs. In bad cases, one can hear gurgling of fluid in the lungs, and the victim brings up bloody sputum, which may kill patient within an hour. Treatment is immediate descent by several thousand feet and oxygen if available.
Body responds to the lower oxygen by increasing the demand of RBC in the blood which results in the thickening of the blood. At excess condition, the blood becomes thick and prone to clotting that results in heart attacks, strokes, and pulmonary embolisms.
Common complaint of most climbers is a persistent dry cough that may result even in broken ribs. This condition results from a drying out of the bronchi caused by breathing cold air. The best treatment is to avoid over exertion and thereby lowering the breath rate.
Atmospheric pressure results due to the pulling of gas molecules by earth’s gravity. Air at a certain level is compressed by the weight of air above it. Therefore, the air pressure at high altitude has less pressure because less air is pushed down from above that leads to a lowering in air density. There are fewer oxygen molecules available even though the air has still 21% oxygen by composition
While climbing high altitudes, the availability of oxygen falls and body responds the condition by increasing the blood flow to the brain. It can overcompensate and the fluid leaks from the blood vessel into the brain causing it to swell which results in Acute Mountain Sickness to severe swelling condition called High Altitude Cerebral Edema. In some bad cases, the brain gets squeezed out down the spinal cord and then one dies. This is called as “Herniation syndrome”. Acute Mountain Sickness can be treated by using diuretics and a plenty of water.
Mountaineer may get flu like symptoms at high point and surprisingly get better after head down. This illness is caused by building up of fluids in the lungs a condition known as Pulmonary Edema. It is a result of increase in the flow of blood through the lungs as the body tries to get as much oxygen as possible to fulfill high oxygen demand. Heart increases the flow by increasing the pressure causing leakage from the blood vessels into the air sacs. In bad cases, one can hear gurgling of fluid in the lungs, and the victim brings up bloody sputum, which may kill patient within an hour. Treatment is immediate descent by several thousand feet and oxygen if available.
Body responds to the lower oxygen by increasing the demand of RBC in the blood which results in the thickening of the blood. At excess condition, the blood becomes thick and prone to clotting that results in heart attacks, strokes, and pulmonary embolisms.
Common complaint of most climbers is a persistent dry cough that may result even in broken ribs. This condition results from a drying out of the bronchi caused by breathing cold air. The best treatment is to avoid over exertion and thereby lowering the breath rate.
Sundeep Sharma
VTPP 435
posted by sundeep at 5:58 PM
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