Do You Suffer From Altitude Sickness?
Altitude sickness is a disease that can affect peak climbers, trekkers, skiers, or travelers at high altitude normally above 8,000 feet.
Travelers face mild altitude sickness at an altitude of 6,000 feet and moderate sickness more than 8,000 feet.
The risk becomes greater between 10,000 and 14,000 feet where travelers experiences harsh indication of the sickness.
There is extremely damaging to traveler's physical and mental health if they stay at altitudes over 18,000 feet for few weeks.
Symptoms of mild and moderate altitude sickness typically consists of headache, shortness of breathe, sleeping trouble, loss of appetite, nausea and rapid pulse.
These symptoms normally increase after 2 days of arrival.
When this sickness turns into harsh sickness then most travelers have trouble in balancing, feel difficult to walk uphill or climbing stairs.
It is essential to identify a worsening case of altitude sickness and seek medical help immediately.
Worsening symptoms of altitude sickness are difficulty in thinking and reacting, confusing state, pale complexion, cough, congestion and also excessively tiredness or sleepiness.
If a traveler refuse to visit to a doctor or just ignore it then he or she can experience high altitude pulmonary edema or high altitude cerebral edema.
High altitude cerebral edema is a state where the brain swells and high altitude pulmonary edema is a state where fluid collects in the lungs.
Both these situation are serious but curable.
The main treatment for all forms of this sickness is to climb down to a lower altitude as soon as possible.
People with serious altitude sickness may be admitted to a hospital.
Extra oxygen should be given to the patients if required.
Acetazolamide (Diamox), a drug used to reduce mild symptoms of this sickness.
Drink plenty of fluids and do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine.
Pulmonary edema is treated by giving oxygen with the help of a breathing machine.
The steroid drug dexamethasone helps in reducing swelling in the brain.
Teaching of altitude travelers before climbing is the key to prevention.
Basic principles include: slow ascent, rest after each day for each 2,000 feet; sleeping at a lower altitude whenever possible; and knowledge of how to get familiar early symptoms of altitude sickness so that you can come back to lower altitude before symptoms get poorer.
Travelers face mild altitude sickness at an altitude of 6,000 feet and moderate sickness more than 8,000 feet.
The risk becomes greater between 10,000 and 14,000 feet where travelers experiences harsh indication of the sickness.
There is extremely damaging to traveler's physical and mental health if they stay at altitudes over 18,000 feet for few weeks.
Symptoms of mild and moderate altitude sickness typically consists of headache, shortness of breathe, sleeping trouble, loss of appetite, nausea and rapid pulse.
These symptoms normally increase after 2 days of arrival.
When this sickness turns into harsh sickness then most travelers have trouble in balancing, feel difficult to walk uphill or climbing stairs.
It is essential to identify a worsening case of altitude sickness and seek medical help immediately.
Worsening symptoms of altitude sickness are difficulty in thinking and reacting, confusing state, pale complexion, cough, congestion and also excessively tiredness or sleepiness.
If a traveler refuse to visit to a doctor or just ignore it then he or she can experience high altitude pulmonary edema or high altitude cerebral edema.
High altitude cerebral edema is a state where the brain swells and high altitude pulmonary edema is a state where fluid collects in the lungs.
Both these situation are serious but curable.
The main treatment for all forms of this sickness is to climb down to a lower altitude as soon as possible.
People with serious altitude sickness may be admitted to a hospital.
Extra oxygen should be given to the patients if required.
Acetazolamide (Diamox), a drug used to reduce mild symptoms of this sickness.
Drink plenty of fluids and do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine.
Pulmonary edema is treated by giving oxygen with the help of a breathing machine.
The steroid drug dexamethasone helps in reducing swelling in the brain.
Teaching of altitude travelers before climbing is the key to prevention.
Basic principles include: slow ascent, rest after each day for each 2,000 feet; sleeping at a lower altitude whenever possible; and knowledge of how to get familiar early symptoms of altitude sickness so that you can come back to lower altitude before symptoms get poorer.
