HIGH MOUNTAIN Medical Handbooks
on CD

1. MEDICAL PROBLEMS IN HIGH MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENTS
58 pages

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 1
Human Physiologic Responses to High Altitude 4
Barometric Pressure and Oxygen Availability 4
Hypobaric Hypoxia and Altitude Acclimatization 5
Acclimatization and Military Operations 8
Medical Problems in High-Mountain Areas 9
Medical Problems Related to Sustained Hypoxia 9
Acute Mountain Sickness 9
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema 14
High Altitude Cerebral Edema 19
High Altitude Peripheral Edema 22
High Altitude Retinal Hemorrhage 23
Thromboembolic Events 24
Subacute Mountain Sickness 25
Immune Suppression and Poor Wound Healing 25
Medical Problems Unrelated to Hypoxia 25
Cold Injuries 26
Solar Radiation Injuries 26
High Altitude Pharyngitis and Bronchitis 28
Lightning Injuries 29
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 29
Terrain-Related Trauma and Orthopedic Problems 30
Constipation and Hemorrhoids 31
Infectious Diseases 31
Pre-existing Medical Conditions 32
Soldier-Related Factors in High Mountain Operations 34
Reduced Physical Performance 34
Psychological Effects of Sustained Hypoxia 35
Sleep Disturbances 36
Dehydration 37
Inadequate Nutrition 38
Pharmacologically-Active Substances 39
Health Service Support Problems in High-Mountain Operations 42
Impact of Mountain Environments 42
Countermeasures for Adverse Environmental Factors 43
APPENDIX A: Medications Treatment of Altitude Illnesses 45
APPENDIX B: Related Reading 47


2. Altitude Acclimatization Guide
19 pages

High Altitude and Hypoxia 1
Health and Performance at High Altitude 3
Altitude Acclimatizaton 6
Staging/Slow Ascent Profiles 8
Intermittent Altitude (Hypoxic) Exposures 11
Monitoring and Assessing Altitude Acclimatization 12
Supportive Interventions 13


3. Oxygen Saturation Report
29 pages

Executive Summary 1
Introduction 2
Methods 2
Statical Analysis 5
Results 5
MAR Group Results 5
LAR Group Results 8
Comparison Between MAR and LAR 9