If you are in good health, will altitude sickness be more severe?

Altitude sickness is a series of symptoms caused by thin air and lack of oxygen at altitude, such as headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, sleep disorders, etc. Some people say that people with better health will have stronger altitude sickness, but this statement is not accurate enough. To be precise, it should be people with better cardiopulmonary function in plain areas, such as middle-distance runners and enthusiasts. They have strong ability to tolerate hypoxia and have mild altitude sickness.

People with strong muscles, such as weightlifting and throwing athletes, or obese people, are more likely to suffer from altitude sickness than ordinary people because their muscles and fat consume large amounts of oxygen.

Every year, many people plan to travel to plateau areas such as Qinghai and Tibet, but altitude sickness makes people worried. Yesterday, a young couple from Chutian College of Huazhong Agricultural University reported to this newspaper that they drove on the Sichuan-Tibet line during this summer vacation. They found that the physically strong husband had a stronger altitude sickness than the thin wife. Many travel friends have also discovered that people with good health seem to have greater altitude sickness than people with average health when going to the plateau.

Is this true? What is the relationship between the degree of altitude sickness and personal physical fitness, age, gender and other factors? The reporter asked sports science research experts and health experts to interpret it.

Travel friends are puzzled: a thin wife is more adaptable to the plateau than a strong husband

Zhou Yaqi, a 28-year-old teacher, and her husband Zheng Xuan are a pair of "travel friends", both of whom are from Chutian, Huazhong Agricultural University The teachers at the college love photography. Since 3 years ago, every summer, the couple will take an in-depth self-driving trip that lasts for more than a month.

This summer vacation, the two drove into the plateau for the first time, taking the Sichuan-Tibet line, but Zhou Yaqi discovered a "weird" phenomenon: entering the "Kham First Pass" at an altitude of 4,920 meters in Sichuan While climbing through the mountains, my husband, who was in good health, suffered from altitude sickness such as headaches and palpitation. However, I, who was described as "weak and frail" by my friends, had almost no altitude sickness. Among the traveling companions, many strong young men complained of headaches and palpitations, while many women, thinner people and older people traveling with us had less severe altitude sickness.

What's going on? After returning to Wuhan, Zhou Yaqi posted his question on the Internet, which aroused the uproar of many travel friends. Based on their own personal experience, they concluded that the altitude sickness in the body after entering the plateau is greater in strong people than in thin people; in men, it is greater than in thin people. Females; younger people than older people.

Experts say: The better the body, the greater the reaction.

Is the phenomenon summarized by netizens universal? Is there any scientific basis? "Altitude sickness 'stronger than thinner; men are greater than women; young people are greater than old people'. This is indeed the case. Netizens summarized it comprehensively." Ma, a senior domestic expert who continues to study altitude sickness and director of the Qinghai Sports Science Institute In an interview with this reporter yesterday, researcher Fuhai believed that altitude sickness is a variety of pathological reactions that occur after the human body is suddenly exposed to a low-pressure and hypoxic environment. Common symptoms include headache, insomnia, loss of appetite, fatigue, difficulty breathing, etc., among which headache is the most common symptom. The fundamental cause of altitude sickness is the body's lack of oxygen. The degree of altitude sickness is directly related to the body's tolerance to hypoxia. "Compared with thin people, strong or obese people consume more oxygen. Under the same environment, the degree of hypoxia is higher and the altitude sickness is stronger." Ma Fuhai explained, In the same way, compared with women, and young people compared with the elderly, their metabolism and energy consumption are much faster, the greater the body's oxygen consumption, and the stronger the altitude sickness. In addition, some elderly people and long-term smokers have significantly lower reactions than others after entering the plateau. This is mainly because their bodies have been in a state of mild hypoxia for a long time due to smoking and age, and their tolerance to hypoxia is relatively strong. After reaching a plateau, it is often easier to "adapt" to this hypoxic state.

Fan Jiacheng, a researcher at the Hubei Provincial Sports Science Institute, also believes that women, thin people, and the elderly may pay more attention to altitude sickness, and are often more prepared before going to the plateau. After going to the plateau, they will try their best according to their physical conditions. If they don't move around or overload their activities, their altitude sickness will be relatively mild.

Health reminder: Category 3 people should be cautious when entering the plateau

Mei Bin, deputy director of the Neurosurgery Department of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, is also a "travel friend". In addition, I often drive myself to Sichuan and Tibet and other places. Just half a month ago, he went to Lhasa for a few days.

Mei Bin pointed out that after common symptoms of altitude sickness such as headache, insomnia, and palpitation occur, these symptoms of altitude sickness can disappear on their own by taking medication, reducing activity, and promptly lowering to a lower altitude. Don't worry too much. However, if severe altitude sickness is not treated in time, it will have a great impact on health and even endanger life. Among them, the common ones are high altitude pulmonary edema and high altitude cerebral edema. If acute altitude sickness occurs and is accompanied by symptoms such as dry cough, headache, dyspnea or cyanosis, high altitude pulmonary edema should be considered; if common symptoms of altitude sickness occur and is accompanied by severe headache, confusion, vomiting and other symptoms, it should be considered as high altitude pulmonary edema. Consider high altitude cerebral edema. Those who experience these two conditions should seek medical treatment immediately and stop staying in plateau areas.

Mei Bin specially reminded that the following three types of people should be cautious when entering the plateau: people with lesions in the heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, brain and other organs; people with high blood pressure and severe anemia; pregnant and lactating women . Because these people have poor adaptability to the plateau environment, they are more likely to suffer from sudden acute altitude sickness, which will also increase the burden on their heart, liver, kidneys, lungs and other important organs, aggravating their condition.

In addition, if pregnant women suddenly enter plateau areas, there are also health risks such as miscarriage.

Tip: Do your homework in advance and prepare enough commonly used medicines

Nowadays, more and more people are traveling to the plateau, especially during the upcoming National Day Golden Week. Many people choose to go Self-driving tours in Qinghai, Tibet and other places.

As a senior "doctor friend", Mei Bin suggested that those who have never entered the plateau should have a comprehensive physical examination before going to the plateau. Based on the physical examination results, ask a doctor to analyze whether it is suitable to go to the plateau. You should quit smoking and drinking before going to the plateau; in addition, those who plan to go to the plateau should do their homework and bring enough commonly used medicines and clothing. One week before arriving at the plateau, you can take the drug "Rhodiola rosea", which can increase hemoglobin. Enhance blood circulation and effectively reduce altitude sickness. After entering the plateau, you can take drugs such as "Gaoyuanan". These drugs have the effect of relieving headaches and can effectively relieve the symptoms of altitude sickness.

Travel friends Zhou Yaqi and Zheng Xuan suggested that it is best to go step by step when going to the plateau: if you are driving by yourself, after entering the area with an altitude of 3000-4000 meters, you should stay and rest for a day or two before entering the area with an altitude of more than 4000 meters. , so that the body can have an adaptation period; if you are arriving directly at a high altitude area by plane, you must pay attention to rest in the first one or two days after arrival, avoid strenuous exercise and physical load, and eat more carbohydrates in your diet and drink more water. .

“It is necessary to pay attention to altitude sickness and prepare countermeasures in advance, but not to be too nervous and have fear.” Ma Fuhai reminded that before going to the plateau for the first time, you may wish to consult more “experienced people” for advice and be prepared. , reduce fear; after entering the plateau, maintain an optimistic attitude, maintain self-confidence, and calmly deal with altitude sickness.