Safe Sojourns to High Altitudes: The Risks of Annual Religious Pilgrimages in Jammu and Kashmir, India- Clinical Diagnostics and Treatment

The increased prevalence of high altitude sickness such as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) are related to the increasing popularity of mountain climbing as an adventure sport; and the increasing ease, and decreasing cost of travel to popular climbing tourist destinations. This precludes the usual preparations and adaptations of experienced climbers embarking on extreme ascents. Today, with the exception of these extreme climbing projects, climbers can climb mountains as a weekend activity. However, even moderate ascents can lead to the illness syndromes that are discussed here. Thus, there is an expected increase in high altitude sicknesses presented to mountain guides, first responders, and emergency department physicians located in mountainous areas.