Managing High-Altitude Sickness

Source: The post Managing High-Altitude Sickness has been created, based on the article “The dangers of high-altitude sickness” published in “The Hindu” on 20th November 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2-Governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context: The article discusses high-altitude sickness, which occurs when the body can’t adjust to high elevations. It highlights the need for better healthcare facilities, a tourist registration system, early intervention, and treatment strategies to prevent and manage high-altitude illnesses in the Himalayas. Managing High-Altitude Sickness

What is High-Altitude Sickness?

1. Definition: High-altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), occurs when the body cannot adapt to reduced oxygen levels at high elevations, typically above 8,000 feet (2,400 meters).
2. Causes: At high altitudes, the air pressure and oxygen levels drop, leading to hypoxia (oxygen shortage in body tissues). Rapid ascent without acclimatization increases the risk.
3. Symptoms: Early symptoms include headaches, nausea, fatigue, and breathlessness. If untreated, it can progress to:
4. High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE): Fluid accumulates in the lungs, causing severe breathing difficulties.
5. High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE): Fluid collects in the brain, leading to confusion, hallucinations, and coma.
6. Body’s Response: The body tries to adapt by increasing breathing and producing more red blood cells, which thickens the blood and strains the heart.
7. Severity: Both HAPE and HACE are life-threatening and require immediate medical intervention, often involving descent to lower altitudes.

What are Effective Treatment Strategies?

1. Immediate Descent: Descending 300–1,000 meters is the most effective treatment for high-altitude sickness. Symptoms improve significantly after descent.
2. Supplemental Oxygen: Oxygen therapy can provide relief for acute mountain sickness (AMS) and severe conditions like high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE).
3. Portable Hyperbaric Chambers: These are useful for emergencies where descent isn’t immediately possible.
4. Medications: Drugs like Acetazolamide and Dexamethasone offer temporary relief.

What are Infrastructural Challenges?

1. In the Himalayan regions, beyond major towns, healthcare facilities are limited. This makes it difficult to treat high-altitude sickness effectively.
   2. Some areas like Leh in Ladakh have specialized facilities, but many high-altitude places lack similar infrastructure.

What should be done?

1. Improve Healthcare Facilities: Establish advanced medical centers in high-altitude regions like Leh, which have specialized facilities for such conditions.
2. Mandatory Tourist Registration: Implement a system to monitor tourist movements and collect data for research on high-altitude sickness.
3. Preventive Measures: Conduct health screenings at entry points, similar to the Inner Line Permit system in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti. Provide preventive medications like Acetazolamide for at-risk travelers.
4. Promote Gradual Ascent: Encourage gradual climbs with rest days to help acclimatization.
5. Provide Emergency Services: Equip states with air-ambulances for quick evacuations. Equip regions with portable hyperbaric chambers and supplemental oxygen supplies.
6. Public Awareness: Share health and safety information online and at checkpoints.

Question for practice:

Discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatment strategies for high-altitude sickness.