Q: I am going on a trip to Yumthang-Lachung and Gurudongmar lake, which are at a height of 14000 to 17000 feet where oxygen is less and I fear I could develop some breathing problem. What medicines should I carry with me and what will be the dosage for these?

A:There are no medicines that can be used in place of oxygen. The oxygen at the height of 14,000 feet may be tolerable by healthy young persons with no ailment (such as anaemia, asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis etc) but oxygen at 17,000 feet will be quite low. Besides there may be no expert medical services available. I suggest that you get yourself examined and get pulmonary functions tests done apart from Hb estimation.