SIG MMG 338 Program Series

Army Developing Tool To Reduce Altitude Sickness In Deployed Soldiers

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“Rapid ascents without sufficient time to adapt to altitude can lead to acute mountain sickness, or AMS,” said Dr. Stephen Muza, acting division chief for the Thermal and Mountain Medicine Division, or TMMD, which is part of the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, or USARIEM. “This condition, marked by nausea, fatigue, headache and gastrointestinal distress, can really throw a wedge into a mission when not planned for.”

To combat the negative effects of AMS on the modern soldier, the Thermal and Mountain Medicine Division (TMMD) of the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) has been developing a system called Altitude Readiness Management System or ARMS. ARMS combines population-based data with an individual’s altitude exposure, which provides information for sustaining health and improving performance. It predicts the prevalence and severity of altitude stress by incorporating altitude acclimatization, acute mountain sickness and physical work performance decrements. ARMS acts as a prediction for the level of AMS a person is likely to experience during a mission as well as offer ways to reduce and potentially avoid the affects of AMS completely.

“This model allows commanders to mitigate the impact of altitude exposure,” Beidleman said. “It not only predicts whether a Soldier would get ill at certain altitudes, it gives a prescription for exposure. This tool can prescribe, for example, that if (Soldiers spend) two days at 8,000 feet before they go to their final altitude of 14,000 feet, the likelihood and severity of AMS would be drastically reduced.”

The ultimate project goal is to produce a stand-alone software product coupled with the capability to produce a mobile version that could be integrated into a wristwatch, GPS, or smartphone. TMMD is currently collaborating with Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory to create a smartphone-based app using the ARMS system.

“If a commander has a small unit of 12 Soldiers with specialized skills, and potentially two can get sick, that really impacts their mission,” Beidleman said. “With this tool, he or she can think ahead to bring an extra person or allow for more time for Soldiers to acclimatize to the altitude. Essentially, it tells them the risk and also provides them with ways to mitigate that risk.”

www.army.mil/article/111471/Army_developing_tool_to_reduce_altitude_sickness_in_deployed_Soldiers/

13 Responses to “Army Developing Tool To Reduce Altitude Sickness In Deployed Soldiers”

  1. Matt says:

    Just pop half a Viagra pill. Just half. It works for alt sickness.

    • Shep says:

      Oh Man, Beat me to it. Pretty fun topic, the blood chemistry stuff makes me want to mix some alcohol in with mine. I need to go find this paper, hopefully its up on DTIC. Physiological modeling is always just a tool, not an absolute. Look at the work/rest cycles up to 95% ish of the population for heat stress in different MOPP ensembles. Just a guide for commanders, but it isn’t going to always be exact, which is going to be an issue. “All models are wrong, some are useful”~ George Box

  2. Ian says:

    Interesting. I’ve never seen a model as to who will be affected by AMS. I’ve seen it in all kinds of people, regardless of physical fitness, age, race, gender.

  3. Lev says:

    +2 Ian’s comments. Moreover, while this initiative is great, no well-trained unit/individual should really need it. With luck it will lead to a more comprehensive effort that links tech with real op capabilities in a tough environment that impacts everyone, especially the least-trained. Hopefully it is put into proper context and doesn’t give a bean counter the idea he can replace training time spent in mtn terrain/conditions with a wristop computer program….and note that I am not considering the two-week “lead climber”(Vegas libo) package legitimate “training time”, though it is decent PT. Grab the big rucks and long rifles and head to VT, Bport, and the few other remaining mtn training strongholds/guru centers we have….keeps the BRAC away. Good training.

  4. Buckaroomedic says:

    So now we get an App to tell us to acclimatize before climbing to altitude? I thought that is what we did anyway.

  5. JohnC says:

    @Matt
    “Just pop half a Viagra pill. Just half. It works for alt sickness.”

    Viagra, Cialas are good; but there are side effects (i.e., numbness), and can interact badly with other drugs (plus, there are problems with chronic, off-label use).

    @Ian and Lev

    Certain genes are expressed and high (or low) altitude — those re oxygen transport for example. Blood tests at sea level for the presence of those genes can give you a pretty accurate sense of someone’s susceptibility to mountain sickness. There’s some very recent (the last month or so) research (maybe out of UCSD?) re genetic adaptations for high altitudes.

    Cf. “Hypoxia and Exercise,” and “High Altitude Medicine and Physiology” for some interesting-ish reading.

    • ian carlin says:

      Try just eating beets or feet juice root. The nitrates increase NO production and lower the pulmonary PB diffential with the air along with increased cellular aerobic efficiency. Just Google it

      • JohnC says:

        It’s certainly ergogenic in Denver (and the other direction, too: free divers take it), though I’m dubious about how effective the “kale, beets, gogi, pomegranate super-blend” will be in, say, the Kush. Though it probably can’t hurt (unless you thow-up).

        @paul
        There’s was actual a book in the 1950’s all about that.
        I know coca chewing and tea is still big in the Andes. It’s probably pretty ergogenic (probably not for overwatch, though).

      • TacMod says:

        Of course if you’re doing beets, then you have zero ability to discern if you’re getting rhabdo… which, if you’re doing long hard work at any altitude, is kinda important.

  6. paul says:

    Did anyone mention doing cocaine?

  7. Will says:

    Nice, the hippies are finally onboard with doing something for alt sickness after 12 years with dealing … fuck em.

    Hey assholes, too little too late.