RESUMEN
@#Introduction: Adventure tourism has become one of Malaysia’s most attractive tourism demands, and mountain climbing is rapidly becoming a popular recreational sport. Exploring mountain adventures offers a dynamic experience, preserving this fascinating activity, yet the climbers are exposed to the risk of altitude sickness, such as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of AMS and investigate the effects of high-altitude sickness on the climber profile associated with climbing at Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Methods:. The Lake Louise acute mountain sickness LLS score questionnaire collected 95 climber’s data at four different altitudes. SPO2 and Pulse rate was (PR) measured using a finger pulse oximeter. In a cohort study, AMS was measured on day one at 1866m (1st station), 3622m (2nd station), and day two at 3810m (3rd station), and 4095m (4th station). Results: At the altitude of 1866 (Timpohon Gate), the prevalence of AMS was 0%, 30% at 3622m (Laban Rata), 34.7% at 3810m (Sayat-Sayat), and 37.9% at 4095m (Low’s Peak). The overall prevalence of AMS was 37.9% and the majority of AMS cases were moderate in severity and the LLS score is significant with Pulse Rate and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SPO2). Conclusion: Concisely, this finding has triggered a need for consideration from multi agencies to enhance mountaineering guidance, especially for beginners or inexperienced hikers, for a suitable package for climbing attempts to reduce the incidence of AMS among Mount Kinabalu climbers.
RESUMEN
High altitude cerebral edema (HACE) and High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPO) are the most dreaded complications related to high altitude. Authors managed a case of HACE and HAPO simultaneously set at unusually low height (1200 ft) in a patient. The altitude was not too much to develop these comorbidities as studied earlier. Relationship with altitude was immaterial in our case. However, rapid ascent without proper acclimatisation, young and tender age, male sex and smoking were associated contributing factors. He was managed with standard protocol and descent to lower altitude.
RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the effect of hypoxia with cold on the heart and brain damage in rats by simulating 6 000 m high altitude at different exposure time,established a rat model of acute mountain sickness for the related mechanism studies.Methods 32 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group,hypoxia with cold 1 d,3 d and 5 d group,8 rats in each group.The normal control group was kept in the plain environment(1 500 m)without any treat-ment.The other three groups were placed in large hypobaric hypoxia chamber to simulate 6 000 m altitude with different ex-posed times.HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of heart and brain tissue.The changes of biochemical indexes were measured to evaluate the damage of heart and brain tissue at different hypoxia times.Results HE staining showed that hypoxia with cold induced rat heart and brain damage with different degrees.The myocardial tissue damage was in-creased with exposure time.The most serious brain damage happened in day 3.Compared with the normal control group,the content of MDA and LD in the myocardial tissue of hypoxia rats were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01)with pro-longed time,while the contents of GSH,T-SOD and the activity of Na+K+-ATPase were reduced(P<0.05 or P<0.01). The content of MDA in brain tissue was significantly increased at day 1 and day 3(P<0.05 or P<0.01).LD content was sig-nificantly increased(P<0.05)with time.The content of GSH,the activity of T-SOD and Na+K+-ATPase were significantly reduced in day 3(P<0.05).Conclusion Simulating an altitude of 6 000 m caused obvious damage on the heart and brain tis-sues of rats.The degree of damage was related to the exposure time to hypoxia with cold.The decrease of body′s antioxidant capacity,the increase of free radicals and energy metabolism disorders are important factors leading to heart and brain injury.
RESUMEN
Acute mountain sickness (AMS ) is a self-limiting medical condition characterized by headache ,nausea ,fa-tigue ,dizziness ,and insomnia .AMS usually occurs after rapid ascent to high altitudes in non-altitude acclimatized individuals . Extensive studies have been done on AMS ,but knowledge on the mechanism ,prevention and treatment are still limited .It will help the prevention and treatment of AMS with deep understanding of its risk factors and mechanisms .In this article ,we sys-tematically reviewed the diagnosis ,risk factors ,developing mechanisms ,preventions and treatments of AMS .