Health Issues At High Altitude

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Health Issues at High Altitude Deepak Dass Abstract Hypobaric hypoxia is a characteristic of high altitude. It causes a host of medical problems, generally classified as ‘high altitude illnesses’, which is used to describe the cerebral and pulmonary conditions that can arise in unacclimatized persons soon after ascent to high altitude. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) refer to cerebral malfunctions and high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) to the pulmonary abnormalities. Despite the fact that high altitude illnesses are preventable they remain a common consequence of rapid ascent to altitude. Other factors such as harsh cold, high wind velocity and extreme solar radiation are detrimental but can be combated with proper protection. This overview tries to expound some fundamental aspects of high altitude illnesses, with regard to symptoms, treatment and prevention. Keywords: Acute mountain sickness, high Altitude pulmonary edema High altitude cerebral edema, hypobaric hypoxia, high altitude. Introduction In the field of high altitude physiology the term high altitude refers to elevations above 1500m, the further elevations are categorised as very high altitude(3500m) and extreme altitude(>5500m)1. The environmental conditions at high altitude become progressively adverse; these harsh stresses have health consequences. The term high altitude illnesses generally refers cerebral and pulmonary maladies that develop over hours to days at high altitude. They are acute mountain sickness, high altitude pulmonary edema and high altitude cerebral edema. Hypobaric hypoxia and hypoxemia are the pathophysiologic precursors to all forms of high altitude illness2. Hypoxia at high altitude The atmospheric air is denser at sea level than at higher terrestrial elevations. The concentration of air remains essentially constant so as
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