On Higher Ground

In order to enjoy high-altitude sports,one needs to allow time for the body to acclimatise

The sights,crisp air and the quiet at 10,000 feet above sea level have many a thrill for those who like to live it up,quite literally,and indulge in sporting activities at high altitude. As average life expectancy has increased,more middle-aged and senior citizens are also taking up high-altitude sports. In India,these are largely restricted to cycling and trekking. Forty two-year-old Dr Abhijeet Joshi from Pune,who successfully completed a cycling expedition from Manali to Khardungla top at 18,350 ft recently,knows exactly how exciting such an experience can be. But he cautions that care needs to be taken to lessen the chances of getting acute mountain sickness (AMS).

Talking about the effect that higher altitude extreme sports can have on our bodies,Joshi says, Our bodies are adapted to work and exercise at sea level. When we go to higher altitude,our bodies need to adapt. Imagine cycling on a gentle,meandering uphill gradient with beautiful snowcapped mountains and having difficulty in breathing every breath a painful deep inhalation for air. The world of sports medicine takes a different definition when you are at 10,000 feet and above. The rules and science of medicine are different than those at the sea level, says Joshi.

He says that altitude starts having an effect on our bodies from 4,000 to 6,000 feet. The higher one climbs,the lower is the air pressure,and oxygen in the air is also less,which essentially means that there is less oxygen for the body. The body struggles and eventually adapts to the air containing less oxygen by taking faster and deeper breaths,the body also produces more red blood cells (which carry oxygen in our blood) to compensate for the reduced oxygen in the air. All these changes take time to happen and the process is called acclimatisation.

Story continues below this ad

The time required for acclimatisation varies from person to person. To give ones body time to acclimatise,it is better to begin with a slow ascent so that the body can adjust to the change in altitude instead of suffering from acute mountain sickness,which manifests as mild to moderate headache,mild difficulty in breathing to a severe and life threatening form known as high altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) or high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE), says Joshi.

HACE and HAPE require a person to descend to a lower altitude and have hyperbaric oxygen (O2 under pressure) and medication. Apart from advising that people climb up gradually,Joshi advices that one can use medication such as Tablet Diamox (Acetazolamide) before and during ascent. It is very important to keep the body well-hydrated by drinking lots of water and also to use supplemental oxygen if required, he adds.

Those suffering pre-existing chronic medical issues such as high blood pressure or diabetes are more prone to AMS. They dont need to give up on enjoying such thrills but need to take extra precautions. Minor symptoms such as headache can be treated with drugs like paracetemol. Diamox can offer some protection against AMS, Joshi says.

The writer is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Deendayal Hospital and Jehangir Hospital

-As told to Anuradha Mascarenhas

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Tags:
cycling
Manali