HIGH
ALTITUDE SICKNESS (AMS) : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NEWS:
The dangers of high-altitude sickness
WHAT’S
IN THE NEWS?
How does high-altitude sickness occur? How will a
mandatory registration system for tourists visiting the Himalayas improve
measures to tackle the illness? How can the sickness be treated? What are some
preventive measures one can take before embarking on scaling the Himalayas?
High-Altitude
Sickness (AMS) in the Himalayan Regions:
Infrastructural
Challenges:
Inadequate
Healthcare Facilities:
- Most
Himalayan regions lack basic medical infrastructure to manage AMS cases
effectively.
- Specialized
facilities like those in Leh are exceptions, not the norm.
Health Screening
Deficiencies:
- Absence of
preventive health screenings for tourists before entering high-altitude
areas.
- Proposal for
a screening system similar to the "Inner Line Permit" could help
identify at-risk individuals early.
About
High-Altitude Sickness (AMS):
Definition:
- AMS occurs
when the body fails to acclimatize to high altitudes, typically above
8,000 feet (2,400 meters).
Symptoms:
- Initial
symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and shortness of
breath.
- Severe
conditions like High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High-Altitude
Cerebral Edema (HACE) are life-threatening if untreated.
Causes:
- Reduced
oxygen levels lead to hypoxia.
- The body
responds by increasing breathing and red blood cell production, straining
the heart and lungs.
Policy
Proposals:
Mandatory Tourist
Registration:
- Enforce a
mandatory system to track tourist movements and provide data for
AMS-related research.
- Facilitates
quicker emergency responses.
Healthcare
Infrastructure Development:
- Establish
advanced medical and research centers specifically for AMS in Himalayan
regions.
- Train local
healthcare workers in AMS treatment protocols.
Air Ambulance
Services:
- Deploy air ambulances
to ensure rapid evacuation for severe AMS cases.
Awareness Campaigns: