Altitude sickness occurs due to rapid changes in air oxygen levels and pressure at higher elevations. You are likely to get altitude sickness even with a physically fit body. Also, you can get altitude sickness symptoms if you don’t give your body the time to relax and adjust to the air and pressure levels as you elevate to higher levels.
Symptoms Resulting From Altitude Sickness
Before traveling to high elevated areas, it is vital to know the symptoms of altitude sickness and the best way to avoid getting them. It will help you remedy the altitude sickness before escalating to significant health issues. The altitude sickness symptoms can range from minor to emergency medical problems. Some of the mild symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Throwing up
- Faster heart rate
- Feeling tired
- Loss of appetite
- Overall body sickness
- Sleeping troubles
There are other severe symptoms, including:
- Consistent coughing
- Intense versions of the mild symptoms
- Skin color changes to a paler than usual color
- Confusion
- Tightness and chest congestion
- Trouble when walking
- Lack of breath even when resting
Are There Effective Treatments For Altitude Sickness?
There are different symptoms for altitude sickness ranging from mild, moderate, to severe symptoms. Hence, treatments depend on how severe or mild the symptoms may be. The treatment methods range from over counter drugs for mild symptoms to hospitalization for severe symptoms. Here are some of the types of treatment for altitude sickness:
- You may need acetazolamide medication for more oxygen levels that boost your breathing rate. Also, it helps the body to adjust quickly to high elevation levels. Acetazolamide also reduces altitude sickness symptoms.
- If you have fluid in the lungs, also called HAPE, you will need a lung inhaler, a respirator, or oxygen medication.
- If you have fluid in the brain, you will require dexamethasone medication that helps to reduce brain swelling. However, it is essential to let an experienced and skilled medical professional prescribe the medication for you.
Here are some techniques on how to avoid altitude sickness.
Drink Water and Take It Easy
The most crucial technique of preventing altitude sickness is by staying hydrated. So, you should drink water frequently when climbing to higher levels. Also, it would be best if you climbed at a comfortable pace without straining the body. It would help not to engage in strenuous exercises.
Avoid Alcohol And Other Drugs.
Taking sleeping pills, cigars, or alcohol could worsen the altitude symptoms. That is why it would be wise to avoid alcohol, sleeping pills, and cigarettes in your trip to higher elevations. Water is the best option to settle for if you need a drink during the trip.
Climb Slowly
The body requires at least two days of adjusting to a higher altitude. It is best to stop and rest each day instead of driving or flying directly to higher attitude levels. Try as much to plan rest days for each 3000 feet higher you go.
Sleep Lower and Eat Curbs
To avoid altitude sickness from worsening, it would help to sleep at lower levels. Also, it would be wise to eat curbs when you are at higher levels. The extra carbohydrates will help add calories, which helps at higher levels. So, you should pack healthy snacks that will help you when traveling to higher elevations.
Take Specified Medication
Research shows that acetazolamide medication can help prevent altitude sickness. However, it is wise to have a doctor prescribe the medication instead of self-treatment. Notably, some people can still get altitude sickness even after taking the acetazolamide medication. However, the most effective way is to get yourself to a lower altitude to reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness.
Conclusion
Altitude sickness can affect any person, no matter how physically fit your body can be. It is common when people are climbing and traveling to greater heights. Altitude sickness is caused by reducing air pressure and oxygen levels as you climb to higher elevated levels. It’s hard to predict how the body will react to high altitudes because they adjust to the changes differently. Hence the need to follow the above techniques on how to avoid altitude sickness. Also, if you have existing health issues, it would be advisable to consult a professional before traveling to higher altitudes. This is because these existing health conditions could worsen altitude sickness.
