Abstract

PENA QUIMBAYA, Eder; GARZON TOBAR, Diego Fernando  and  MAYOLO VALENCIA, Alfredo Arturo. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SYMPTOMS IN ACCLIMATION PROCESS IN TOURISTS VISITING EL RUIZ SNOW COVERED MOUNTAIN - COLOMBIA. Hacia promoc. Salud [online]. 2010, vol.15, n.2, pp.64-80. ISSN 0121-7577.

Objective: to characterize the level of physical activity of tourists visiting el Ruiz Snow Covered Mountain at 4287-4816 meters above sea level, and also to establish the prevalence of Acute Mountain Sickness symptoms and signs. Materials and Methods: Descriptive, cross sectional study in 129 tourists. From December 2008 to December 2009, Physical Activity questionnaires were applied (International Physical Activity Questionnaire). Lake Louis inquired social and demographic aspects, physical activity and Acute Mountain Sickness assessment in ranges: headache, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue or weakness, dizziness, vertigo, mental alterations, ataxia, and peripheral edema. For the analysis and tabulation of data the frequency distribution techniques were used. Descriptive statistics was also used. Results: according to the IPAQ 45.7% were classified as insufficiently active (sedentary), 30.3% insufficiently active (active) and 24% as highly active (very active). Mainly the serious AMS is that one considered important because of the morbidity potential and the need for immediate evacuation. at 4,287 MASL, 1.6% of tourists acquired severe AMS and 4,816 MASL 16% of tourists had the severe AMS. Conclusion: the abbreviated Physical Activity Questionnaire allows the identification of the sendentariness; at the same time, and because of physical inactivity in daily life, the tourist is more susceptible to experience the AMS symptoms at a high altitude. As a consequence, it is important that the tourist be in an active level of physical activity before the exposure to high altitude because this allows a greater VO₂ maximum in the city of residence which allows the organism to protect itself and respond to internal and external stress.

Keywords : Physical activity; altitude sickness; health promotion.

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