Altitude sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness is a medical condition occur due to rapid increase in altitude with less amount of acclimatization at lower air pressure. Normally slight sigh of Altitude sickness appears on every trekkers such as headache or shortness of breath. But who are more fit tend to have less trouble with AMS. One should understand the importance of acclimatization on higher altitude and never trek too high in too short a time.
Acute Mountain Sickness may occur in some trekkers on altitude of 2400 meters or 8000 feet, but serious symptoms are quite rare below 3700 meters (12000 feet) and above 8000 meters or 26000 feet, our body cannot survive without supplementary supply of oxygen. As the altitude increases, the amount of molecules in the air decreases, such as air becomes more dense then the air comparing to sea level. Such as higher we go we start breathing deeper and faster.
One should never neglect even the smallest symptoms of AMS and try to prevent it as much as possible with any means. AMS is really a dangerous killer out there in the mountains. Listen to your body, drink plenty of water, acclimatize enough, trek slow will really help you.
We can categorize AMS in two stages. Primary and Severe......
Primary Symptoms:
Mild Headaches is the primary symptom used to diagnose altitude sickness, although a headache is also a symptom of dehydration. A headache occurring at an altitude above 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) – a pressure of 76 kilopascals (0.75 atm) – combined with any one or more of the following symptoms, may indicate altitude sickness:
Severe Symptoms
Symptoms that may indicate life-threatening altitude sickness include:
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (Fluid in the lungs) or HAPE
- Symptoms similar to bronchitis
- Persistent dry cough
- Fever
- Shortness of breath even when resting
High Altitude Cerebral Edema (Swelling of the brain) or HACE
- Headache that does not respond to analgesics
- Unsteady gait
- Gradual loss of consciousness
- Increased nausea and vomiting
- Retinal hemorrhage
Acclimatize your body to thin air and Consumption of enough liquid is the key tip. From your arrival time start drinking plenty of fluids, minimum 3 ltr a day. The clearer your urine, the better your are. Walk peacefully without any hurry and always climb high but sleep low. Note that both alcohol and caffeine increase dehydration. Limit your intake of both when hiking at high altitudes. This particularly holds true during the first few days of your hike.
Medications
The drug acetazolamide (trade name Diamox) may help some people making a rapid ascent to sleeping altitude above 2,700 metres (9,000 ft), and it may also be effective if started early in the course of AMS. Acetazolamide can be taken before symptoms appear as a preventive measure at a dose of 125 mg twice daily.
If mild AMS symptoms occur:
Don’t ascend any higher.
Drink lots of water (at least 4 litres per day).
If necessary, take a couple of ibuprofen or paracetamol for headache.
Rest
Once symptoms have subsided, which could take two to three days, it should be OK to start ascending again. Do so slowly and with awareness.
In case of severe AMS symptoms:
Descend immediately (at least 500m).
Seek medical attention ASAP.
Note that if your symptoms are severe, you are beyond the point at which Diamox or or any other medication (such as Dexamethasone) can provide relief. Your only option is to descend.
Other Altitude Illnesses
Less common, but more serious forms of altitude illness occur when fluid accumulates on the lungs (High-Altitude Pulmonary oedema or HAPE) and brain (High-Altitude Cerebral Oedema or HACE). For information on these conditions and other altitude related issues, see Traveldoctor.co.uk and Base Camp MD.
