STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: With ever increasing rush of the devotees enroute Amarnath Yatra which is known for its difficult and high altitude terrains Head Department of Cardiology GMCH Jammu Dr Sushil Sharma held a day long cardiac awareness cum health check up camp at Shri Ram Mandir, Purani Mandi Jammu to educate the Yatris and masses about the cardiac risks involved at high altitude and ways to prevent them by recognising symptoms and seeking medical care at earliest to prevent mortality and morbidity.
While interacting with the Yatris, Dr Sushil stated that the interactions between the low barometric pressure and partial pressure of Oxygen, climate, individual genetic, lifestyle and socio-economic factors, as well as adaptation and acclimatization processes at high elevations are extremely complex.
“It is challenging to decipher the effects of these myriad factors on the cardiovascular health in high altitude residents, and even more so in those ascending to high altitudes with or without pre-existing diseases. Besides genetic and lifestyle factors, chronic exposure to high-altitude environments may impact cardiovascular health, disease development and life-expectancy. While acute ascent to high altitudes may adversely affect cardiovascular health in lowlanders, particularly in those with pre-existing diseases, acclimatization diminishes this risk and hypoxia conditioning can even benefit and protect the cardiovascular system. At higher altitudes any place 9,840 feet above sea level or higher the heart needs more oxygen-rich blood, even at rest. Activities at higher altitude can place too much stress on the heart and blood vessels due to lower levels of oxygen and fluctuations in air pressure, temperature and humidity. Even at moderate altitudes, such as 8,800 feet above sea level, fainting can be common and may happen within 24 hours of making the ascent,” Dr Sushil said.
He elaborated that unacclimatized individuals may suffer from Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), or High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).
In order to facilitate the life-sustaining oxygen delivery to the main organs, such as heart, brain, kidney and so on, cardiovascular system plays a crucial role in adaptation to the bad environment of high altitude, including hypobaric hypoxia, low temperature, low humidity and high radiation, Dr Sushil said.
However, he added, under certain conditions, the failure of cardiovascular adaptations to acute or chronic high altitude exposure is sometimes associated with several disadvantageous outcomes, including increase of pro-arrhythmic risk, systemic hypertension, high altitude pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy, RV failure and so on.
“For people with coronary artery disease higher altitudes may cause coronary arteries to constrict, further limiting blood flow to the heart. This can lead to shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness and other symptoms, especially if these symptoms have been experienced at sea level. Coronary artery disease also raises the risk for acute coronary syndrome, which includes heart attacks and unstable angina or severe chest pain when at rest. Sudden cardiac death is the most frequent non-traumatic cause of death at altitude. It may occur without warning and result in death within minutes if the individual does not receive treatment. Risk factors for sudden cardiac death include history of a prior heart attack, as well as male sex and older age,” he said.
Dr Sushil advised people to follow the strategies for a safe trip to high altitudes such as increasing altitude gradually so the body has time to adjust to lower levels of oxygen, drinking enough water and fluids to stay hydrated, adjusting medications to reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular events. Planning a gradual ascent and establishing emergency descent plans and awareness of the closest hospitals.
Management Committee of the Shri Ram Mandir Mahant Rameshwer Dass and Dr Satya Narayan appreciated the efforts of Dr Sushil and his team for conducting cardiac awareness cum health check up camp.
Yudvir Sethi and his team also lauded the role of Dr Sushil and his team for organising the camp in their area.
Others who were part of this humane efforts includes Dr Venkatesh Yellapu, Dr Yashwant Sharma and Dr Dhaneshwar Kapoor. Paramedics and volunteers includes Kamal Sharma , Amish Dutta, Raghav Rajput, Ranjit Singh, Rahul Sharma, Paramveer Singh, Arun Singh, Rahul Vaid, Rohit Nayyar, Jatin Bhasin, Maninder Singh, Makhan Sharma and Nirvair Singh Bali.
