High Altitude Sickness can be Detected Before the Appearance of Physical Symptoms

When this level of oxygen falls below a certain amount, hypoxia can cause a variety of symptoms including shortness of breath, impaired speech, slowed reaction time and passing out.

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The Mayo Clinic study team used the King-Devick neurocognitive performance test, commonly used to identify cognitive changes related to sports-related concussions, and to assess cognitive function under conditions of low oxygen-simulating altitude.

The King-Devick test assesses the time in viewing, identifying and reading aloud a series of numbers on three consecutive test cards. Based on test times of 25 participants, the study concluded that the King-Devick test is an effective tool to detect "impairment of cognitive performance at a presymptomatic stage of hypoxia."

The findings have been published in journal Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine.

Source: ANI