Source: TH
Context: The recent death of a trekker in Uttarakhand due to respiratory failure highlights the critical dangers posed by high-altitude sickness in the Himalayas.
What is High-Altitude Sickness?
- Definition: High-Altitude Sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), occurs when the body struggles to acclimatize to low oxygen levels at elevations above 8,000 feet (2,400 meters).
- Types:
- HAPE: High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (fluid in lungs).
- HACE: High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (fluid in brain).
- Symptoms: Headache, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, confusion, and, in severe cases, coma.
Why Does It Happen?
- Low Oxygen Levels: Reduced oxygen in the air leads to hypoxia in body tissues.
- Physiological Strain:
- Hyperventilation increases breathing rate.
- Thicker blood due to increased red blood cell production strains the heart.
- Rapid Ascent: Climbing too quickly without acclimatizing exacerbates risks.
Preventive and Mitigative Measures:
- Gradual Ascent:
- Rest every 3-4 days at altitudes above 3,000 meters.
- Avoid sleeping elevation increases of more than 500 meters per day.
- Medications:
- Acetazolamide: Enhances acclimatization.
- Dexamethasone: Reduces severe inflammation.
- Nifedipine: Preventive for those prone to HAPE.
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