Climbers sometimes develop acute mountain sickness/ Chemistry
Climbers sometimes develop Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) when ascending too rapidly without allowing their bodies time to acclimate to the lower oxygen concentrations in air at high elevations. One physiological response to high altitude is hyperventilation. Taking acetazolamide (trade name: Diamox) prior to and during ascent can help prevent the nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and headaches associated with AMS. Acetazolamide inhibits carbonic anhydrase functions. 1. What effect does hyperventilation have on blood pH and how would acetazolamide act to counteract this?
