ARTICLE –
abstractThe
role of acclimatization in preventing acute mountain sickness: research
on a group of 36 climbers on climbing the mountain Muztagh Ata,
China, between 3600 and 7546 m altitude Banu Gheorghe The Emergency
Military Hospital Regina Maria, Brasov, Romania
Abstract
The
aim of this study was to identify and compare the frequency and
intensity of symptoms of acute mountain sickness in a group of climbers
during their training for acclimatization and post-acclimatization at
high altitude. Material and Method. The study included 36
climbers aged between 35-64 years who trained and acclimatized between
3600-6800m in Muztagh Ata (7546m), China, in order to climb the peak on
skis or snowshoes. To diagnose acute mountain sickness (AMS),
questionnaires based on the Lake Louise symptomatic and functional
score of self-evaluation were distributed. These were afterwards
collected and analyzed in relation to demographic data, the altitude
reached and the rate of climb in camps set between 3600-6800m, before
and after acclimatization. Results. the prevalence of AMS during the
acclimatization between 3600-6800 m was 31.40% between 3600-4450m and
69.60% between 4450-6800 m. At 6,800 m it was 81.48%. After
acclimatization, between 4450 -6800m, on average 44.81% of the subjects
suffered from AMS, and at 7546m, 8 (66.66%) suffered from AMS, and 4
(33.34) not. Of the 36 climbers who wanted to reach the top, only 12
(33.83%) were able to meet the proposed target (7546 m). Of these, 4
(11.11%) showed no AMS. In total, 88.89% suffered from mild to moderate
AMS at different altitudes, with 4.66% presenting reversible forms. Conclusion.
the prevention of acute mountain sickness, of its
severe complications and the success in climbing at high altitude (7546
m) are determined by many factors: age, health, training and stamina,
technical climbing, ski touring, snowshoes, a good acclimatization by
following all stages of acclimatization, the ascent rate, the
adaptation to extreme weather conditions and teamwork.
Key
words:high
altitude, illness, acclimatization
Full
article:
The
role of acclimatization in preventing acute mountain sickness: research
on a group of 36 climbers on climbing the mountain Muztagh Ata, China,
between 3600 and 7546 m altitude
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