Question

Altitude sickness occurs when a hiker ascends to altitudes where the density of oxygen is low. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors cause less movement of carbonic acid toward carbon dioxide production and are used as a prophylactic treatment of altitude sickness. How does this treatment decrease the symptoms of high altitude sickness?.

Answer 1

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors decrease the symptoms of high altitude sickness by reducing the production of bicarbonate ions in the kidneys, which leads to an increase in the acidity of the blood. This increase in acidity stimulates the respiratory center in the brain to increase the rate and depth of breathing, which helps to compensate for the low oxygen levels at high altitudes.

At high altitudes, the density of oxygen in the air is lower, which can lead to a decrease in the amount of oxygen that is delivered to the body's tissues. This can result in symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue, which are collectively known as high altitude sickness.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors work by inhibiting the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, which is responsible for the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into bicarbonate ions and protons. By reducing the production of bicarbonate ions, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors increase the acidity of the blood, which stimulates the respiratory center to increase breathing. This increased breathing helps to increase the amount of oxygen that is delivered to the body's tissues, which can reduce the symptoms of high altitude sickness.