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How to deal with altitude sickness

deal with altitude sickness

Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS) or hypobaropathy, occurs on account of low air pressure and low oxygen levels at high altitudes. It results in several mild, moderate and severe conditions like dizzy spells, headaches, nose bleeds, irrational behavior, hypothermia and peripheral edema.

Hydrate your body regularly

At higher altitudes, the mountain air is dry and cold, causing dehydration as you breathe. Dehydration often triggers headaches at the onset of altitude sickness. Remember to drink a lot of water, especially when you are at altitudes of 3000 meters and above. You must drink at least 3 liters of water every day to keep your body hydrated when hiking. Remember to always drink water before you begin to feel thirsty. Opt for Nalgene water bottles that you can fix to your shoulder with ease. This lets you get a drink without having to halt and look into your pack. Do not fail to drink water, even if you do not feel like it or are feeling too sick to drink. Avoid caffeine and alcohol at high altitudes, as these result in increased levels of dehydration. Maintain the electrolyte balance in your body by drinking sports drinks that consist of lots of electrolytes.

Hypothermia and thermoregulation

Thermoregulation is very crucial for preventing hypothermia due to altitude sickness. Hypothermia occurs when the core temperature of the body goes down below normal as the body loses heat faster than its ability to produce heat. Once this happens, it gets easier to progress from very cold to fatally cold situations on account of factors like wind, fatigue, dehydration, wet clothing and hunger. This can be dangerous if not taken care of early.

Symptoms of hypothermia include severe exhaustion, numb skin, slurred speech, shivering, irrational behavior, lethargy, dizzy spells and muscle cramps. In extreme case, lips may turn blue and pulse rates may go down eventually slowing down heart and brain functions.

To avoid these symptoms, simple and effective steps need to be taken. Dress up in layers, wear several clothes made of insulating and water proof materials like silk, wool and artificial fibers. Wearing appropriate head gear is vital, as a lot of heat is lost through the head. Carry basic supplies like food containing simple sugars that generate heat faster. A space blanket is a must is a must for all travelers at high altitudes. Additionally, a thick plastic survival bag can be carried along for emergencies as it provides more heat when compared to space blankets.

Eat regularly

Proper diet management is very important at great heights, in order to avoid altitude sickness. When hiking at higher altitudes, exertion levels are high. To avoid severe fatigue, it is a good idea to consume small meals and carbohydrate snacks throughout the day followed by consuming protein in the evening. Carbohydrates require less oxygen for metabolism. They replace depleted muscle glycogen stores thereby preventing protein from being burned as energy. A suggested diet is one that provides 4,000 calories per person per day in the ratio of 60-65 percent carbohydrate, 20-25 percent fat and 10-15 percent protein. Besides this, you can include carbohydrate solutions to add to your beverages likes Powerade, Cytomax or Gatorade.

Pressure breathing

At higher altitudes, low oxygen levels decrease the amount of oxygen intake with every breath that you take. In fact, you lose about 3 percent of the available oxygen every 1000 feet that you climb. Pressure breathing helps to compensate for this decreased intake of oxygen. This is done by pursing your lips and inhaling deeply to the maximum lung capacity followed by pausing for a moment and then forcefully exhaling carbon dioxide from the lungs. This eventually increases saturation of oxygen in blood. Pressure breathing maximizes the body’s intake of oxygen and eliminates nausea, breathlessness and other symptoms of altitude sickness.

Altitude medicines

Medicines for treatment of mild to severe symptoms of altitude sickness are available. But these must be prescribed by a qualified medical professional. Pain relievers like Ibuprofen are good for headaches and body ache. Drugs like Nifedipine and Frusemide can be used to treat HAPE(High Altitude Pulmonary Edema). Acetazolamide and Dexamethasone can be administered in prescribed doses for treating Acute Mountain Sickness(AMS). In fact, the latter can also be used for treating HACE(High Altitude Cerebral Edema) during descents. Myo-inositol trispyrophosphate (ITPP) is a preventive medication for altitude sickness that considerably increases the quantity of oxygen released by hemoglobin in blood. Other effective herbal remedies for altitude sickness include consumption of Ginkgo biloba and Rhodiola rosea capsules.

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