High Altitude Health Care Skill Builder

The focus the first day will be on high altitude physiology and pathology and will cover the following topics:

• Barometric pressure, altitude zones, and the O-H dissociation curve.
• Acclimatization = adjusting ventilation.
• Weight loss: bringing hemoglobin closer to myoglobin.
• The oxygen cascade and human performance, the AMREE experience.
• Living high – training low. Why do East African runners do so well?
• AMS, HACE, and HAPE.
• Drug actions and side effects.
• The eye and the ear at altitude.
• Pre-existing disease: who can go to high altitude? Who shouldn’t?
• Pregnancy at altitude.
• Disease in altitude residents.
• The future of high altitude research: molecular genetics.
• Working for the Himalayan Rescue Association in Manang, Nepal.

This information should be helpful to climbers in maximizing their comfort and chances of successful ascents, and to physicians who advise them beforehand or accompany them on the climbs/expeditions.

The second day will cover:

Problems exacerbated by high altitude:

• Hypothermia
• Cold injury
• Sunburn

Concerns during the approach to high mountains of the world:

• Sleep
• Water purification
• Diarrhea
• Vaccinations
• Common tropical diseases
• Medical kits
• Health insurance