How To Handle Altitude Sickness While Trekking In Nepal
What is Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), is a condition that can occur when a person rapidly ascends to higher altitudes, typically above 2,500 meters. As you gain elevation (reach a higher altitude), the air becomes thinner, meaning, the air has less amount of oxygen. Naturally, if there is relatively less oxygen in the air, your lungs find it difficult to absorb oxygen from the air and supply it to your body. So when your body doesn’t have enough oxygen, you might experience symptoms like headache, loss of appetite and sleeplessness. It is more common in mountainous regions, where the air pressure and oxygen levels are lower than at lower elevations. Your level of physical fitness, age, sex and even your previous experience at high altitude have no connection to your chance of getting altitude sickness in the Himalayas. It really can affect anyone. If symptoms of altitude sickness are ignored, they can become life threatening. Every year people die of altitude sickness, in Nepal and around the world. All these deaths are preventable.
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Symptoms of Altitude Sickness
There are there common symptoms of Altitude Sickness
1)Â Â Â Acute mountain sickness (AMS).
2)Â Â Â High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE).
3)Â Â Â High altitude cerebral edema (HACE).
AMS ( Acute mountain sickness)
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a common symptom, marked by symptoms such as headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, and disturbed sleep. These signs typically emerge within hours of ascending to elevated altitudes.
HAPE ( High altitude pulmonary edema)
HAPE mostly affects your lungs. You might feel like you can’t catch your breath, especially when you’re not doing anything. You could have a cough that doesn’t go away, and what you cough up might be pink or frothy. Your chest might feel tight, and it might be harder to breathe. So, what’s happening is that the blood vessels in your lungs are under too much pressure, and because of that, fluid starts leaking into the tiny air sacs in your lungs. This is bad because it makes it harder for your body to get the oxygen it needs, and that’s why you feel so sick. If this happens, the best thing to do is to go down to a lower place where there’s less altitude. Also, using extra oxygen can help you feel better.
It’s crucial to recognize these symptoms early and not ignore them because HAPE can get really serious. Descending to a lower altitude is like giving your body a break and letting it breathe better. So, if you or someone you’re with is showing signs of HAPE, make sure to get down the mountain and maybe use some extra oxygen if you can.
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HASE ( High altitude cerebral edema)
HACE messes with your brain and can be very serious. You might get a really bad headache that doesn’t go away, even if you try taking medicine. You could feel confused and really tired, and sometimes it’s hard to walk straight. In really extreme cases, people can even fall into a coma. Feeling like you want to throw up and actually throwing up might happen too. HACE happens when a headache and other symptoms from being high up in the mountains get worse and start affecting your brain. If this happens, it’s super important to go down to a lower place where there’s less altitude right away. Going down helps your brain get the oxygen it needs, and that’s what makes you feel better. If you have it, using extra oxygen can also help. In some cases, doctors might use a medicine called dexamethasone to make the symptoms better. Remember, if someone is showing signs of HACE, like a bad headache that won’t go away and confusion, don’t wait. Get down the mountain and seek help. HACE is serious, but going to a lower place and getting more oxygen can really make a big difference.
How to prevent from High Altitude Sickness
1) Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of fluids, mainly water, to stay hydrated. The air at higher altitudes is often drier, and increased fluid intake helps for greater respiratory and urine water losses.
2) Gradual Ascent
Ascend to higher altitudes gradually. Avoid rapid ascents and allow time for your body to acclimatize to the reduced oxygen levels. Spend a day or two at intermediate altitudes before going higher.
3) Avoid Alcohol and Tobacco
When you’re up in the mountains, it’s best to be careful with alcohol and smoking. These things can make you more thirsty and dry, and they might make the symptoms of feeling sick in high places even worse. So, it’s a good idea to not drink too much alcohol or smoke a lot, especially when your body is getting used to being at a higher place. It’s like giving your body the best chance to feel good in the mountains, so it’s better to limit or avoid alcohol and smoking, especially when you’re getting used to the new altitude.
4) Eat Light, Nutritious Meals
When you’re up in the mountains, it’s a good idea to eat foods that are light and easy for your stomach to handle. Choose meals that have lots of carbohydrates, like bread, rice, and pasta. Try to avoid heavy, greasy, or really spicy foods because they might make you feel sick or give you a stomachache. Eating light and sticking to easy-to-digest foods helps your body adjust better to the high altitude, making your mountain experience more enjoyable and comfortable.
5) Medications
Consider medications like acetazolamide (Diamox) under the guidance of a healthcare professional. This medication can help prevent and reduce symptoms of altitude sickness by promoting acclimatization.
6) Climb High, Sleep Low
If you’re in a place with high mountains, it’s a good idea to let your body get used to the higher altitude. But, when it’s time to sleep, try to go down to a lower place. For example, if you set up your sleeping spot in a valley, you can climb a little hill nearby during the day to see the view and then come back down to sleep. This helps your body adjust without making it too hard for you to rest at night. On days when you’re taking a break, you can also try walking up a bit to a higher place and then come back down. It doesn’t have to be a big climb, even a short one can help. This is extra important when you’re really high up, like above 10,000 feet, because your body is learning how to work with less oxygen. So, going up a bit during the day and coming down to sleep helps you acclimatize better and feel better in the mountains.
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