Chronic mountain sickness in ladakh
|
Chronic Mountain Sickness (CMS) is a condition that affects long-term high-altitude residents, leading to symptoms like headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, and excessive red blood cell production. While it is most often studied in the Andes and the Tibetan Plateau, the high-altitude communities of Ladakh have remained under-researched - until now.
In a collaborative effort between the Ladakh Institute of Prevention, headed by Dr. Tsering Norboo, and A Thousand Metres Above Foundation, our team conducted the most comprehensive study to date on CMS in Ladakh. Surveying nearly 400 residents across four of the highest-inhabited regions - Pangong, Hanle, Korzok, and Rubsho - we found an overall CMS prevalence of 30.15%, with nearly 60% affected in Rubsho (4500–5000 m). Interestingly, despite similar altitudes, CMS risk varied significantly by region, pointing to other factors like occupation, migration, and lifestyle as key contributors. These findings were presented at the International Conference on Emergency Medicine (ICEM) in Montreal in May 2025. They highlight the urgent need for region-specific approaches to screening, prevention, and treatment of CMS in Ladakh’s vulnerable high-altitude populations. |
|