3. ALTITUDE
HIGH
&
DEEP SEA
DIVING

4. High Altitude Physiology
Altitude Barometric Pres PO Effects
5000 feet mmHg No hypoxia
mmHg Mild symptoms of hypoxia
mmHg Moderate hypoxia
severe hypoxia
Highest level for permanent inhabitants
Height of Mount Everest

5. Immediate /Acute effects of Hypoxia
In unacclimitized Person at feet
1. Drowsiness
2. Lassitude
3. Muscle fatigue
4. Nausea
5. Headache
6. Mental proficiency > Judgment , memory and motor activity
> Twitching & Seizures at ,000 feet
> Coma & death above feet

6. Mountain Sickness
Is the condition characterized by adverse effects of hypoxia at high altitude.
Acute mountain sickness
Chronic mountain sickness

7. Symptoms of Mountain Sickness
GIT. Mostly due to expansion of gases:
Painful distention of stomach and intestine
Loss of Appetite
Nausea, vomiting
Respiratory system:
Breathlessness- Pulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema due to Hypoxia

8. Nervous System: Headache Depression Disorientation, Irritability,
weakness & fatigue- - All CNS symptoms develops due to CEREBRAL EDEMA

9. Acclimatization “ Adaptation or Readjustments
in the body to high altitude “ -

10. Changes during Acclimatization:
Changes in blood
RBC count increases
Packed cell volume increases
Hemoglobin content increases.
Changes in CVS
Rate and force of contraction of heart increases
Cardiac output increases
Vascularity increases.

11. Changes in Respiratory system Pulmonary ventilation increases
Pulmonary hypertension.
Diffusing capacity of gases increases.
Changes in tissues
Amount of oxidative enzymes increases
Increase in number of mitochondria

12. Chronic mountain sickness
Red cell mass and hematocrit increases exceptionally high.
Pulmonary arterial pressure becomes elevated.
Right side of the heart enlarges.
Peripheral arterial pressure falls
Congestive heart failure
Death

13. Deep Sea Diving

14. Pressure at different levels under the sea
ONE L
½ L
¼ L

15. Pressures after Sudden Decompression

16. Decompression Sickness, Caisson’s Disease, Dysbarisom
Occurs when a person returns rapidly to sea level after exposure to High Atmospheric Pressure.

17. Mechanism: after every 33 feet Pressure rises by ONE atmosphere
Mechanism: after every 33 feet Pressure rises by ONE atmosphere. So high barometric pressure causes compression of gases. O2 is Utilized & CO2 is Expired out BUT N2 is an Inert Gas & highly fat soluble Bubbles out when suddenly decompressed

18. Symptoms of Decompression Sickness
Are mainly due to escape of N2 in the form of bubbles:
Severe pain in the tissues particularly in the Joints.
Numbness, tingling or Pricking ( paresthesia)
& Itching due to bubbles in myelin sheath.
Temporary Paralysis due to bubbles in Motor Nerves
Muscle Cramps
Bubble in the blood may lead to occlusion of any vessel
Nitrogen Norcosis; N2 has no effects at sea level BUT In deep sea (high Pressure), Norcotic effects starts appearing.

19. Prevention and Treatment
Slow Ascent with short stay at regular Intervals.
Treatment
Affected person should be recompressed
& then should be brought back to the sea level gradually.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
SCUBA
( Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus)
Is used by deep sea divers