Two Killers in Mountaineering: Loss of Temperature and Heart Failure

Mountaineering is a dangerous sport. During the course of mountaineering, especially during the climb to extreme mountains, the highest mortality rate is in addition to the usual causes of sliding, avalanches, etc., as well as hypothermia. And heart failure two killers.

Low body temperature

The danger of hypothermia is easy to understand. He died of hypothermia, that is, freezing in the usual sense. Extremely high mountains usually have an elevation above the snow line, some are above a few kilometers above the snow line, and they are usually thin air with low oxygen content in the air. Therefore, the normal metabolism of climbers is affected.

If long-term exposure to low temperatures, windy weather, lack of oxygen, coupled with lack of exercise, even if there is protection of down jackets, body temperature is too low. Low body temperature can lead to endocrine disorders, hallucinations and loss of consciousness until the final death. Even if you save your life through rescue, you may leave sequelae.

The hypothermia not only occurs in mountaineering but it can also occur in any outdoor ice and snow sports. At the same time, hypothermia is also the largest killer of the Bohai Sea. In the course of mountaineering, to prevent body temperature is too low in addition to maintaining adequate cold equipment, self protection and rescue, protection of inactive mountaineers is the most important defensive measures.

In 1960, Liu Lianman lost his ability to exercise at an altitude of 8600-8700 meters. He suffered coma, loss of consciousness, and other symptoms after suffering hypoxia. He did not die of hypothermia, and eventually he was able to descend. This is a miracle. It seems to be a unique miracle. When the British Antarctic expedition team was completely annihilated, it did not completely lose its food. The cause of death was also blocked by snow and wind, and the body temperature was too low. In addition, many mountain climbers who impacted the summit of the Mount Everest described the climbers who had lost their ability to exercise on various occasions and had died of hypothermia when they returned from their successful summit.

Therefore, if the mountaineers lose their ability to move due to various causes such as slippery slides (induced fractures, etc.), acute mountain reactions, etc., they must be properly placed by the most urgent means. If they are placed in windbreak camps and provide hot drinks, oxygen can be considered in the extreme high mountain conditions. In the event of difficulty in activities and coma, special care must be provided to prevent death.

If you are trapped in blizzard on the way, you should set up a camp in the shortest possible time, or dig a snow pit or a snow cave to avoid the snow. One legend has it that the two men slept naked and slept in a sleeping bag, preferably from nose to nose, so that it was not easy to freeze to death.

heart failure

Compared with hypothermia, heart failure is a killer who lacks omens. In 75 years, Zongyue, the commander of Everest’s commando team, died less than half an hour after the remote sensing of the electrocardiogram was completed in the assault camp and died due to heart problems. At that time, there should be sufficient oxygen available for use.

At low altitudes, the main cause of heart failure is myocarditis and other conditions. Performance includes pulmonary edema, white or pink foam. It is usually considered as pulmonary edema in climbers. In fact, pulmonary edema alone is not enough to kill. Pulmonary edema is easily diagnosed and has a long time from onset to worsening, long enough to go back and forth between 5,000 meters and 8,000 meters. In fact, many people have continued to work under conditions of pulmonary edema.

The heart is an important organ that sustains life. Heart failure, even if sent to a critical ward in a low-altitude area, is a high-mortality disease under the rescue of various advanced instruments. Traffic in the mountains is inconvenient, and rescue conditions are also limited. Once the disease occurs, it is almost inevitable that there will be no doubt. Therefore, heart failure focuses on prevention. Before entering the mountains, you must do a physical examination. Persons with contraindications should not blindly enter the mountains. Do not find yourself in a timely manner or continue to climb upwards.

Always pay attention to your heart's working condition during the mountaineering and pay attention to protecting the heart. Can take vitamin C to protect the heart, vitamin E to improve the body's anti-anoxia ability. If blood is thick due to too many red blood cells in the blood and the heart burden becomes heavier, bleeding can be considered. In addition, diuretics can be suitably used to relieve edema symptoms. In the condition of edema, the patient feels thirsty. At this time, the patient is allowed to drink a lot of water, especially the salt water can cause fatal consequences.

If there is sliced ​​ginseng during mountain climbing, it will be of great use. In the most urgent situation, ginseng can even be eaten. Large doses of ginseng are the last line of defense in life. In 60 years, the top athletes began to stand by at the assault camp. They only had fruit sugar and ginseng on their bodies. Eventually, they even achieved an oxygen-free summit of more than 8,700 meters.