Three New Ideas to Protect Special Forces From the Stress of High Altitude
Abstract
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a well-documented syndrome that affects 42% of non-acclimatized individuals traveling to altitudes above 10,000 feet. Decreased barometric pressure, which leads to low blood oxygen levels, is the primary casual factor of AMS. Symptoms of AMS are characterized by headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue and difficultly sleeping. Moreover, when people travel to high altitude, cognitive performance and endurance exercise capacity are impaired. Therefore, the goal of this research is to identify effective pharmacological agents that will help reduce the symptoms of AMS and improve physical and cognitive performance at high altitude.
The investigators will study the efficacy of the dietary supplement, quercetin, the drugs nifedipine (extended release) and methazolamide taken together, the drug metformin, and the drug nitrite in reducing symptoms of AMS and improving cognitive and exercise performance at high altitudes.
Conditions: Mountain Sickness.
Primary outcome: Change in Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire at High Altitude; Change in Lake Louise AMS Scoring System at High Altitude; Change in Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) at High Altitude; Change in Uphill Hike at High Altitude; Change in Defense Automated Neurobehavioral Assessment (DANA) Reaction Time at High Altitude.
Enrollment: 148 participants.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a clinical trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 148 participants or records.
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