Federal Drive

Mountain sickness debilitates warfighters

Finding an answer to altitude sickness may be a matter of life or death for troops.

Federal News Network Staff

March 25, 2011 8:40 am

< a min read

Sit-ups, push-ups, wind sprints and mountain hiking. Does that sound like your ideal Spring Break? Well, then the military wants you for research being done to combat altitude sickness. Afghanistan’s high-altitude battlefields have left troops debilitated, and the military is trying to develop a simple blood test to identify soldiers who might be prone to getting sick. The Wall Street Journal reports students who participated in the research were tested for six specific genes at sea level and under physical duress at 9,600 feet. The Pentagon hopes that commanders can better plan personnel and disperse medications for high altitude missions with the information.

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