Use of Hypoxic and Carbon Dioxide Sensitivity Tests of Predict the Incidence andSeverity of Acute Mountain Sickness in Soldiers Exposed to an Elevation of 3800 Meters

摘要

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is characterized by headache, nausea, and dizzinesswith individual differences occurring susceptibility. At any altitude, there will be individuals who will show little or no symptoms while others will be severely incapacitated. Previous studies have shown that individuals with no symptoms of AMS tend to ventilate more than those who develop severe symptoms. The main objective of this study was to determine if susceptibility to AMS can be predicted from ventilatory responses to breathing hypoxic and carbon dioxide gas mixtures for 7-10 minutes prior to an altitude exposure. Another objective was to determine it there was a difference between cigarette smokers and nonsmokers in susceptibility. Forty-seven soldiers (25 smokers and 22 nonsmokers) performed an isocapnic hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) test and a hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR) test at Ft. Riley, KS (450 m) prior to being deployed to the Santa Lucia Base Camp, Potosi Bolivia (3500 to 4050 m). AMS symptoms were assessed in Bolivia by the self-administered Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire during the first two days of exposure.