Some mountain climbers will take a medication, calledacetazolamide (trade name Diamox), starting 24 hours prior toascending to elevation as a preventative to reduce high altitudesickness. To figure out how this alleviates high altitude sickness,answer the following questions.
- Around 70% of CO2 is transported in the blood as bicarbonateions. Draw this reaction.
- Acetazolamide inhibits the enzyme that catalyzes the reactionbetween CO2 and H2O and the dissociated ions of carbonic acid(bicarbonate and H+). What effect would this have on blood pH,blood PO2, and blood PCO2?
- Acetazolamide triggers the kidneys to excrete bicarbonate andincrease the respiratory rate. What effect would this have on bloodpH, blood PO2, and blood PCO2?
- Based on these answers, how does this help to prevent highaltitude sickness?
