Soldier at High Altitude: Problem & Preventive Measures

S.S Purkayastha; W. Selvamurthy

doi:10.14429/dsj.50.3426

S.S Purkayastha Defence lnstitute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, Delhi
W. Selvamurthy Defence lnstitute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, Delhi

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.50.3426

Keywords: High altitude, Pulmonary oedema, Hypoxia

Abstract

Due to military and j trategic reasons, a large body of troops is being regularly dcployed in the snowbound areas through ut the Himalayan regions to guard Ihe Ironliers. Thc mountain environment at high 'allitude (HA) consisls of several faclors alien lo plain dwellers, which evoke a series of physiological responses in human system. Some of the sea' level residents on induction to HA suffer from several unloward symploms of HA" ailmenls varying from mild-lo-severe degrees. Sudden
exposure to HA is detrimental to physical and mental performance of the low landers and certain cases, may even lead to dreaded condition like high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPO). These may make a man Jisturbed physically and mentally. So, there is a need lo prevent such hazards v(hich is
possible if the individual is aware of the problems and prevenlive measures ofHA ailments in advance, before going to HA for a safe and happy living there. Hence, a noble effort has been made to provide guidelines to create awareness about physical and physiological problems of life at HA and the
methods of protection against its ill-effects for the soldiers, mountaineers and sojourners conducting scientific trials it HA. In th.:s revieJ, an attempt has been made to describe vital aspects of HA in a popular way, st~ing with its concept and various environmental factors which exert considerable
ettects on human body functions, heallh and performance on exposure to such environment, on the b¥is of a series of studies coitlucted at Ithe Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, Delhi, oVer the years. The most important featurelof HA (3,000 m and above) is hypoxia or deficiency of
oxygej1 in the body. Olher cnvironmental tactors are: scverc cold, high velocity wind, low rclalivc humidily, high solar radiatior, increased ultraviolet radialion and difficult terrain. These faclors are responsible for various HA cWtdc old syndromes, viz., acute mountain sickness, HAPO, dehydration,
4unburn, snow-blilidness, CO-poisoning, hypothermia and cold injury of the extremities.

Author Biographies

S.S Purkayastha, Defence lnstitute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, Delhi

Shri SS Purkayastha, Sci E, is the Head of the Department oflCold and High Altitude Physiology Division at the Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Delhi. He has conducted intensive and extensive re.search in the f'ield of high altitude and cold phiYsiology. He is the only Scientist in India to have conducted physiological research trials in both the Arctic and the Antarctic regions in the same year ( 1990), and also the first physi'ologist to have carried out research in Siachen glacier at an altitude of 5486-6096 m. He has about 100 research publications in the reputed
national/international journals to his credit.llc was awardcfl Surg RJar Adm M.S. Malhotra Research Award (seven times) for best publications from the Institute and .SIRI Research Award for significant contribution in the prevention and treatment frostbite, He was a member of the recent ( 1999) Indo-Kyrgyzstan Joint Research Project on Physiological Adaptation at High Altitude.

W. Selvamurthy, Defence lnstitute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, Delhi

Dr W Selvamurthy. Sci a. is presently the Director of two DRDO Institutes. namely DlPAS and Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR). He has made significant research contributions in the fields of physiological acclimatisation at high altitude. application of yoga for the Armed, Forces. psychological stress and its managemet, clinical.neurophysiolog)'. He has published 10 books.120 research papers and 5O technicalreports. He was the leader of the First Indo-Soviet Scientific Expcdition to the Arctic for Physidlogical Expcriments ( 1990-1991) and also the leader. recent (1999) Indo-Kyrgyzstan joint Research Project on Physiologic~1 Adaptation at High Altitude. He was elected as President of Physiology Section of ISCA in 1996. he has been honoured with the
prestigious awards, such as Prof S.N. Maitra Oration ( 1995); Bhat Nirman Pracharya Award ( 1995); SIRI Research Award ( 1995); Platinum Jubliee Oration ( 1995) Maj Gen S.L. 'Bhatia Oration ( 994); Prof B.B. Sarkar Memorial Oration ( 1993 ); DRDO Scientist of the Year Award ( 1986): Kaya Vicharna ( 1986); Shakuntala Amir Chand Award ( 1985)Maj Gen Amir Chand Awdrd ( 1984); Thangama- Vasudevall Research ( 1981 ).

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