Char Dham Yatra 2023: Precautions To Be Followed By Heart Patients During The Trek

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Amidst the Himalayan peaks enveloped by dewy snow layers, in the awe-inspiring environs of the Garhwal Himalayas, we have four shrines, of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Ganga, and Yamuna that have defied the test of time and natural ravages even today.

Visited by maximum number of devotees, despite the climatic and geographical drawbacks, the blessings of the Gods of Char Dham have set many lives in the right path and improved the fortunes of millions that have visited them. People of all ages, creeds and sects visit the temple complex and return back fulfilled and inspired.

The temples of, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath are located at high altitudes that go beyond 3000 and odd m wherein trekking is dangerously difficult if you are not physically and mentally fit. As you trek higher and higher, as it takes you, the oxygen peters out leaving you short of breath and susceptible to heart attacks, especially if you are suffering cardiovascular diseases. There are certain health conditions about which you have to rethink before considering a trek at any of these places at high altitude.
If you are unable to walk for a long distance or even trek, then it is better to drop the idea. Trekking to Himachal requires you to be in perfect shape physically and mentally.

Precautions To Be Taken Before The Trip

Six months before you intend to journey to the Himachal, get your routine check ups done with a specialist who can assess your levels of cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, and asthma. If he finds your health and fitness are not as expected, then you may have to step out to Char Dham taking a bundle of precautions and your regular medicines. Also pack up medicines for headaches, body ache, vomiting and other upsets.
Do not trek, with heavy luggage on your back, as oxygen levels decreasing gradually in these places, may lead to heart attacks and cardiac arrests.

Above 50, people with heart related comorbidities, need to travel with family and not alone. Get used to long distance walks much before the journey starts so that you do not tire yourself out during trekking. Obesity adds to the problems for heart patients who need to be extra careful here.

Follow a strict heart-friendly diet and adhere to your medication regimenpromptly and allow time for some morning exercises about 6 months before the journey. Beyond the altitude of 8,000 feet, however, the demand for oxygen increases. If you are asthmatic, you need to get a certificate of clearance from your doctor, to ensure that your symptoms are under control with medication.

Oxygen Scarcity At Higher Altitudes

To breathe comfortably at Kedarnath it requires 87 percent oxygen whereas in fact, you can get 57 percent oxygen. Symptoms are restlessness, fainting, and heart attack.

Kedarnath is about 11,700 ft above sea level. Daily, at around 12.30 p.m., due to high winds, all flights are closed and until the winds calm down, the helicopter moving here, must come down to under 8000 ft. There have been incidents of fatal mishaps of this kind reported in the past few years.

You should either have good lung stamina, or should be in the age group between 18 to 55 or you should be a good yoga practitioner in order to take this challenge up. At Kedarnath, the atmospheric oxygen is only 40 percent of the required level of 87 percent. With very low levels of oxygen, heart gets fatigued, brain is affected, and you suffer a high-altitude pain. Immediately the patient has to be brought down to a level under 6500 ft or should be given extra oxygen. Oxygen depletion has caused several deaths so far in the history of Kedarnath.

So another way of combating this problem is to halt for 24 hours at about a height of 8500 to 10000 ft above sea level. Then continue the journey. This way body gets used to the high altitude and you face less problems with your trek as you slowly gain altitude.

People more or less consider this a spiritual journey and ignore the health pitfalls at the same time. It is spiritual no doubt but make sure you are fit enough to go through the sublime experience of the glory of mountains and the mercies of the Lord.

Disclaimer: The information is based on assumptions and information available on the internet and the accuracy or reliability is not guaranteed. Boldsky does not confirm any inputs or information related to the article and our only purpose is to deliver information. Kindly consult the concerned expert before practising or implementing any information and assumption.