High Altitude Extreme Environment
-
Upload
ipai0956 -
Category
Health & Medicine
-
view
5.050 -
download
3
description
Transcript of High Altitude Extreme Environment
![Page 1: High Altitude Extreme Environment](https://reader033.fdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061218/54b66c2a4a7959ec278b4622/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
High Altitude Extreme
Environment
By Ileana Pai
![Page 2: High Altitude Extreme Environment](https://reader033.fdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061218/54b66c2a4a7959ec278b4622/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Environmental conditions
• Altitude is defined on the following scale:
High 8,000 - 12,000 ft.Very High 12,000 - 18,000 ft.Extremely High 18,000+ ft.
• There are alternating daily extremes of climate change, winds are often strong and humidity low, resulting in
rapid dehydration. Second, the air pressure is lower and
humans have difficulty breathing.
![Page 3: High Altitude Extreme Environment](https://reader033.fdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061218/54b66c2a4a7959ec278b4622/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Maximum Time Humans Can Cope
There is no way to determine the amount of time that a human can survive at a high altitude. Survival is on an individual basis and it
all depends on their age, sex, physical condition.
![Page 4: High Altitude Extreme Environment](https://reader033.fdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061218/54b66c2a4a7959ec278b4622/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Limits Humans Can Endure
• Most people can go up to 8,000 feet (2,438
meters) with minimal effect
• People are able to climb higher if their
bodies have adjusted to high altitudes
![Page 5: High Altitude Extreme Environment](https://reader033.fdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061218/54b66c2a4a7959ec278b4622/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Effects OnHumans
Immediate Effects:• Hypervenelation• Fluid loss• Increase in heart
rate• Lowered stroke
volume• High blood
pressure in the lungs
• Symptoms similar to a really bad hangover
Longer Term Effects• Lower lactate
production• Compensatory alkali
loss in urine• Decrease in Plasma
volume• Higher concentration of
capillaries in skeletal muscle tissue
• Right ventricular hypertrophy
• Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction
![Page 6: High Altitude Extreme Environment](https://reader033.fdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061218/54b66c2a4a7959ec278b4622/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Three Body Systems Most Affected
The three body systems most effected by high altitudes are the respiratory system, the nervous system, and
the cardiovascular system.
![Page 7: High Altitude Extreme Environment](https://reader033.fdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061218/54b66c2a4a7959ec278b4622/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (H.A.P.E.)
• Develops after 2 or 3 days at altitudes above
2300 m.• Dangerous build-up of
fluid in the lungs that prevents the air spaces
from opening up and filling with fresh air.
• Can be fatal within hours• Produce white or pink
frothy sputum• Breathless at rest
• Temperature may be elevated
• Must evacuate to a lower altitude
• Impossible to predict who will get H.A.P.E.
• If you have had H.A.P.E. you are more likely to get
it again• Chest infections or vigorous activity while
climbing makes you at a higher risk of getting
H.A.P.E.• Lips turn blue
![Page 8: High Altitude Extreme Environment](https://reader033.fdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061218/54b66c2a4a7959ec278b4622/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (H.A.C.E.)
• Build up of fluid in the brain causing it to swell• Severe headache, vomiting, and lethargy will progress
to unsteadiness, confusion, drowsiness, and lastly, a coma
• Can kill in only a few hours• 1% of people above 3000 m. get H.A.C.E.
• The faster the assent and the higher the altitude increases ones chance of getting H.A.C.E.
• The cause of H.A.C.E. is unknown• Decent is the most effective treatment but a gamow bag can be used, oxygen, and the drug dexamethasone
![Page 9: High Altitude Extreme Environment](https://reader033.fdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061218/54b66c2a4a7959ec278b4622/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
• Common at high altitudes• 75% of people have mild symptoms
• Occurrence of AMS is dependet upon the elevation• Starts between 12-24 hours
• Headache, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, nausea, disturbed sleep, and a general
feeling of malaise• AMS is considered to be a neurological problem cause
by changes in the central nervous system• Decent is the only cure but the drug diamox can help
you breathe faster to get more oxygen
![Page 10: High Altitude Extreme Environment](https://reader033.fdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022061218/54b66c2a4a7959ec278b4622/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Proper Clothing and Special Equipment
Required
Gamrow Bag Tents Food and water Lightweight cook
wear Knives
Insulated clothes & shoes
Picks and harnesses Toiletries Matches or fire starter First aid kit