Health hazard and ecosystem in high altitude Himalaya, India

Abstract

The impact of ecosystem on health hazard in high altitude Himalaya is probably of the greatest stress for man. In contrast to others, it is permanent, invariable and irremediable. Despite such a stressful ecosystem millions of people live there under conditions of severe hypoxia and very low barometric pressure that create many physiopathological problems. The native population show a different and at the same time a more varied clinical picture. This can be considered as a true adaptation consisting mainly of increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricular hypertrophy, polycythaemia, reduction of cerebral and coronary output and low arterial pressure. Chronic bronchitis has been found as prevalent disease in males and females both, however at some villages this has been absent. Despite the other environmental hazards, the higher intensity of cigarette smoking was directly responsible for the high incidence of chronic bronchitis. In most populations both the mean blood pressure and the prevalence of hypertension increase with age. The incidence of obesity was lesser than the rest parts of India.