The Army Training System - AskTOP

Acclimatization to HighAltitudesElevations below 5,000 feet havelittle noticeable effect on healthy people.However, at higher elevations theatmospheric pressure is reduced, andthe body tissues get less oxygen. Thismeans that soldiers cannot work orexercise as well at high altitudes. Thelimiting effects of high elevation areoften most pronounced in older soldiersand persons with low levels offitness.Due to acclimatization, the longer asoldier remains at high altitude, thebetter his performance becomes.Generally, however, he will not performas well as at sea level and shouldnot be expected to. For normal activities,the time required to acclimatizedepends largely on the altitude. Inorder to insure that soldiers who arenewly assigned to altitudes above 5,000feet are not at a disadvantage, it isrecommended that 30 days of acclimatization,including regular physicalactivity, be permitted before they areadministered a record APFT.Before acclimatization is complete,people at high altitudes may sufferacute mountain sickness. This includessuch symptoms as headache,rapid pulse, nausea, loss of appetite,and an inability to sleep. The primarytreatment is further acclimatization orreturning to a lower altitude.Once soldiers are acclimatized toaltitudes above 5,000 feet, deacclimatizationwill occur if they spend 14 ormore days at lower altitudes. For thisreason, soldiers should be permittedtwice the length of their absence, notto exceed 30 days, to reacclimatizebefore being required to take a recordAPFT. A period of 30 days is adequatefor any given reacclimatization.Air Pollution and ExercisePollutants are substances in the environmentwhich lower the environment’squality. Originally, air pollutantswere thought to be only byproductsof the industrial revolution.However, many pollutants are producednaturally. For example, volcanoesemit sulfur oxides and ash, andlightning produces ozone.There are two classifications of airpollutants - primary and secondary.Primary pollutants are produced directlyby industrial sources. Theseinclude carbon monoxide (CO), sulfuroxides (SO), hydrocarbons, and particulate(ash). Secondary pollutantsare created by the primary pollutant’sinteraction with the environment. Examplesof these include ozone (03),aldehydes, and sulfates. Smog is acombination of primary and secondarypollutants.Some pollutants have negative effectson the body. For example, carbonmonoxide binds to hemoglobin inthe red blood cells and reduces theamount of oxygen carried in the blood.Ozone and the oxides irritate the airpassageways in the lungs, while otherpollutants irritate the eyes.When exercisers in high-pollutionareas breathe through the mouth, thenasal mucosa’s ability to remove impuritiesis bypassed, and many pollutantscan be inhaled. This irritates therespiratory tract and makes the personless able to perform aerobically.The following are some ways to dealwith air pollution while exercising:• Avoid exposure to pollutants beforeand during exercise, if possible.• In areas of high ozone concentration,train early in the day and afterdark.• Avoid exercising near heavily traveledstreets and highways duringrush hours.• Consult your supporting preventive-medicineactivity for advicein identifying or defining trainingrestrictions during periods of heavyair pollution.Pollutants can irritatethe respiratory tractand make the personless able to performaerobically.12-4