Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU , July 14: 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 Sharma said.
Others who were part of this humane effort include Dr Venkatesh Yellapu, Dr Yashwant Sharma and Dr Dhaneshwar Kapoor. Paramedics and volunteers include 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.
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