Will an electronic nose help at high altitude?. Issue 4 (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vinnikov, Denis; Nenna, Raffaella; Soumagne, Thibaud
• Is Part Of: Breathe. Volume 14:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 322
• Page End: 324
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Treatment; Periodicals; 616.2005
• DOI: 10.1183/20734735.019918
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1810-6838

Abstract

Travel and stay at high altitude for recreational purposes or work is challenging, because the demand for acute acclimatisation to hypobaric hypoxia triggers distinct respiratory, cardiovascular, neurohumoral and psychological shift. The respiratory response, such as increase in respiratory rate, hypoxic vasoconstriction and other mechanisms, may be most pronounced. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is likely to develop in unacclimatised subjects who rapidly ascend to high altitude, with clearly growing prevalence with increasing altitude [1]. Because AMS is diagnosed when other potential reasons are ruled out, the diagnosis is to a great extent subjective, because the leading symptom of this condition is headache. This article aims to provide more information on AMS, a prevalent condition at high altitude, as well as on emerging novel methods of diagnosis, and to discuss the feasibility of their use at high altitude. An electronic nose does not simply detect the concentrations of selected VOCs in the exhaled air, but verifies the cumulative signature, reflecting the overall VOC concentration. This technology is novel but promising. http://ow.ly/IPCt30mbIBV