Cumpstey, Andrew and Grocott, Michael P. W. (2015) High altitude respiratory physiology and patho- physiology. Shortness of breath, 4 (3). pp. 100-106. ISSN 2281-6550
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Abstract
At high altitude, reduced atmospheric pressure causes the partial pressure of oxygen to decrease – creating an environment of hypobaric hypoxia which presents a unique set of challenges for the respiratory system. Pulmonary physiological responses such as the hypoxic ventilatory drive are essential for successful acclimatisation, whilst others such as hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction may be implicated in the development of altitude illnesses. Pulmonary conditions are some of the most common (e.g. high altitude cough) and also the most serious illnesses seen at altitude (e.g high altitude pulmonary oedema, HAPE). Minimising the chance of developing HAPE through planning an appropriate ascent profile should be strongly encouraged as HAPE can rapidly be fatal if left untreated. Whilst pharmacological agents such as nifedipine can help with the management of HAPE, rapid descent remains the single-most important treatment option once symptomatic. Given the increasing popularity of travelling to altitude, an awareness of how hypobaric hypoxia affects chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is also becoming increasingly important for respiratory physicians
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | altitude, hypoxia, hypoxic, pulmonary oedema, acclimatisation, adaptation, cough, asthma, COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypobaric. |
| Subjects: | 600 Tecnologia - Scienze applicate > 610 Medicina e salute (Classificare qui la tecnologia dei servizi medici) |
| Depositing User: | Sig. Daniele Granieri |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Mar 2020 15:10 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Mar 2020 15:10 |
| URI: | http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/16146 |
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