Mountain Sickness and Puna or Altitude Sickness
The mountain sickness can affect the health of a worker in a severe way, though the usual is that it only causes slight discomfort.
The mountain sickness symptoms diminish the performance of a worker y they can take him t make mistakes in the production process or in situations that can put his life or his workmates’ life in risk.
There are several ways to treat and prevent this illness, details that are treated in the chapter "Mountain Sickness", of the book "Nutrition, Physiology and exercise in altitude". (link to the chapter of the book).
In our experience we have achieved to rescue workers that suffer from this illness at disabling levels for altitude work, that was taking them to abandon their work with its economic and social consequences of unemployment.
Through the use of acetazolamide, diuretic medication, that blocks the carbonic anhydrasa, which produces acidity at blood level, besides the training in a hypobaric chamber for the recognition of the symptoms and the verification of effectiveness of the indicated doses of medication, these workers have returned to their working place.
Oxygen saturation without and with Acetazolamide
(4500 meters-Simulated Altitude in Hypobaric Cahmber)
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The
use of this medication has achieved the increase of blood saturation
of oxygen as shown in the next graphic.Presence of Symtoms without and with Acetazolamide
(4500 meters-Simulated Altitude in Hypobaric Cahmber)
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Heart Rate Ascend Licancabur Volcano
(24 men, 20 Women, 5 Physician and 2 Nurses)
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Arterial Oxygen Saturation in Ascend Licancabur Volcano
(24 men, 20 Women, 5 Physician and 2 Nurses)
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