Risks of Brain Injury Visiting High Altitude Destinations....Mauna Kea? (Volcano: rental car, rental)

[Crusoe]

Our family has been visiting Mauna Kea volcano as often as possible since our arrival on the big island a few months ago. No one has felt ill or experienced sickness. Due to our rental car agreement we have only traveled to the visitors center. (In Colorado though we often went to the summit of Mount Evans and Pike's Peak too without anyone in our family having health issues.) Recently a family member decided he wants to train for triathlons using the volcano's altitude. When we began searching pro's & con's of high altitude training we came across an item published in Scientific American, Into Thin Air: Mountain
Climbing Kills Brain Cells, The neural cost of high-altitude mountaineering, the Fayed study.

In brief the article states climbers who stopped at various elevations, several as low as Saddle Ranch Road heights scanned with significant brain injury. Their injuries were still present three years after their climb.

Can someone with knowledge explain this study? Do you think the physical exertion of climbing contributed to the damage reported whereas driving at leisure would not have the same effects? Certainly scientist who live on Mauna Kea or park rangers, hosts, staff would be advised of possible risks? There are no advisories for guest beyond caution of altitude sickness. Nothing was said in Colorado either while we were there. In Colorado we met Apolo Ohno running around Pike's Peak, certainly the U.S.A.'s Olympic Team medical supervisors would know of Fayed's findings. Team members train at high altitudes for months don't they?

I appreciate discussion on this topic. More so should any replies be kind enough to consider using layman terms.

[Jungjohann]

Well, if prolonged exposure to high altitude causes any form of significant brain damage, it would certainly explain a lot of behavior up around Volcano...

Sounds like a bogus study to me.. But, then again, I'm at sea level. Wonder if there is a reverse affect at sea level?

Cogitoo eergo summy. Maybe not

[Dragonmam]

My dad was in the foreign service and we lived in La Pax, Bolivia (11,000+ft). I was young but I recall that new arrivals needed to take it easy for the first two weeks. Usually about the 3rd to 5th day people felt somewhat ill. Kids with asthma usually got attacks within the first few days of arriving.

When you live (and train) at high altitude, the body responds by increasing the red blood cell count and capillaries to get more oxygen The Americans and Europeans who lived there were quite active in the tennis clubs, swimming, climbing etc. Once they had acclimated, I don't recall anyone getting sick under normal athletic activity with the exception of skiing at Chacaltaya, 17,000+ ft above sea level. My parents still see their friends and their now grown children regularly and no one has brain damage from the experience.

I'm wondering if the study you cited considered dehydration and the role it can play in brain damage. At high altitudes, the air is really dry. You must drink much more water than you are need, especially if you are exerting yourself. You don't really sweat or get hot so you just have to know to drink it. Perhaps climbers, who are wanting to lighten their load as much as possible don't bring enough water and are suffering the effects of chronic, repeated dehydration.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Crusoe

In brief the article states climbers who stopped at various elevations, several as low as Saddle Ranch Road heights scanned with significant brain injury. Their injuries were still present three years after their climb.

In layman's terms, you seem to have been tripped up by the difference between metric measurements and the English system we use.

At the lowest step mentioned in that study, 6,500 meters, they were at 21,325 feet, which is 50% higher than the observatories at Mauna Kea (14,000'). The Visitor Center is at 9,200' and the highest point of Saddle Road is at 6,632.

So you can breathe easy, driving up to the Koch Observatory for the view won't hurt your brain.

Originally Posted by Jungjohann

Well, if prolonged exposure to high altitude causes any form of significant brain damage, it would certainly explain a lot of behavior up around Volcano...

At nearly 4,000' feet altitude, yes, we're high all the time at Port Volcano.

When I first arrived, I heard a guy talking about the Kilauea Basketball League for the Altitudinally Challenged, and I thought it was really nice the community had organized sports activities for disabled people. Then I found out it was for players 5' 8" and shorter.

[Crusoe]

Thank you all very much for your funny comments and personal experiences. I appreciate each of you taking time to share.

Yes, I do see I read without comprehension Open D. Such a simpleton I am. I could not wrap my mind around the findings. I thought perhaps I was missing a proper term in my Google search. I spent a good two hours trying to figure out on my own why anyone would work at Mauna Kea elevations with risk factors. After not finding supportive documents on high altitude climbing I gave up posting here. Ha, no news worthy items because there are no significant concerns at 6,500 FEET. Much obliged to you for going over the Scientific American story.

I do not know if it is of any interest yet I previously posted on City Data as Kimberly. I could not log on last night to my former account. I do not want to even try now. After discovering I could not read with purpose last night I probably was equally as lame and left caps on or something while trying to log on.


Dragonmam, did your father or your neighbors enjoy good health, longevity from their time at high altitude? I am reading (Lol, interpreting) nothing but confusion about prolonged benefits of exposing oneself to high altitudes. We have a little buddy guy who now is seven who has suffered since 5 weeks old complications after being misdiagnosed as having colic instead of pneumonia. We have traveled for years searching for a medical team who can communicate toward his good health. We have been fortunate to meet great talent and skill in specialist yet getting them to put aside their personality & procedural conflicts on top of stroking egos consumed 80% of our time with them. Three days after arriving on the island we noticed terrific changes in his coloring, happiness. Almost four months later now being able to feed him freshest foods, having him in the ocean, breathing clean air his recovery is remarkable. We are searching for new opportunities and are wondering could there be spending above sea level.

Does anyone else with a special needs family member have island secrets, hints, therapies they would post? Thank you in advance.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Crusoe

I do not know if it is of any interest yet I previously posted on City Data as Kimberly. I could not log on last night to my former account. I do not want to even try now. After discovering I could not read with purpose last night I probably was equally as lame and left caps on or something while trying to log on.

If I interpret this correctly, you could not log on as Kimberly so you created a new account as Crusoe?

If so, you have inadvertently violated the Terms of Service (TOS) here, which prohibits having more than one account. If done deliberately that can get you banned from the site.

If that's the case, you should send a Direct Message (DM) to Yaca, who is one of the Super-Moderators here, and explain the situation, so that it can get fixed.

[Crusoe]

Okay, will do. The first time I posted here I received a warning about posting advertising or soliciting or something. I really need to take remedial reading courses. Or just pay attention.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Crusoe

Okay, will do. The first time I posted here I received a warning about posting advertising or soliciting or something. I really need to take remedial reading courses. Or just pay attention.

ProTip: Take the time to read the TOS. Many people seem to treat it as just so much boilerplate and skip over it, but it is really full of important things to know, as well as some helpful suggestions for getting the most out of the site. The link is in a sticky link at the top of each forum here.

And remedial reading classes? Yes, I'd say many members need those, based on how often people misunderstand what they read here.

[Crusoe]

And remedial reading classes? Yes, I'd say many members need those, based on how often people misunderstand what they read here. [/quote]

As with all family huh? Misunderstandings happen? Are the thread counts accurate? The per view tally's? Appears the lot of you who contribute regularly have a captivated audience. Maybe for more than your good advice. At the end of the day I hope there are no hard feelings.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Crusoe

At the end of the day I hope there are no hard feelings.

Sooner or later the cannibals seem to take care of the soreheads, so it's best to get into the Aloha spirit as soon as possible.