In addition to AMS symptoms, one may experience profound fatigue, weakness, inability to walk with a normal gait, lack of concentration, confusion, and delirium. HACE is an emergency and warrants immediate descent to lower altitude and emergency medical care. A common question from patients is how they can prevent altitude sickness. Most importantly, one can reduce risk by ascending slowly to higher altitudes—a gradual increase in elevation over several days allows the body to acclimate. It would also help if you gradually increase your physical exertion level at altitude for the first few days.
Lastly, you should stay well-hydrated and avoid consuming alcohol for the first few days at altitude. Symptoms of altitude sickness usually develop between 6 and 24 hours after reaching altitudes more than 2,m above sea level. Altitude sickness does not only affect mountain climbers. It's not possible to get altitude sickness in the UK because the highest mountain, Ben Nevis in Scotland, is only 1,m.
In the UK, acetazolamide is not licensed to treat altitude sickness. But it's available from most travel clinics and some GPs may prescribe it.
Begin taking acetazolamide 1 to 2 days before you start to go up in altitude and continue to take it while going up. You should still go up gradually and follow the prevention advice, including taking time to acclimatise, having regular rest days and drinking plenty of water.
If you get symptoms of altitude sickness while taking acetazolamide, rest or go down until you feel better before going up again. Acetazolamide can be used to reduce the severity of your symptoms, but it will not completely get rid of them.
Tell your travel companions how you feel, even if your symptoms are mild — there's a danger your judgement may not be clear. After 2 to 3 days, your body should have adjusted to the altitude and your symptoms should disappear. If the symptoms of altitude sickness are ignored, they can lead to life-threatening conditions affecting the brain or lungs.
Share on Pinterest. Climb slowly. Eat carbs. Avoid alcohol. Drink water. Take it easy. Sleep lower. Symptoms of altitude sickness.
Bottom line. Read this next. Altitude Sickness. Medically reviewed by Graham Rogers, M. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Mountain Climbing Safety. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. What Is Diaphragmatic Breathing? Thoracentesis: What You Need to Know. The primary symptom of altitude sickness is a headache. However, many factors, including dehydration , can cause similar symptoms.
As a result, a doctor will assess a range of criteria to reach a diagnosis. For a doctor to diagnose a person with altitude sickness, the person must have climbed to an altitude higher than 8, ft , present with a headache, and be experiencing other associated symptoms.
These symptoms may include dizziness, insomnia, and shortness of breath, among others. A person who develops any of these symptoms should immediately stop ascending and rest until their symptoms have cleared. They may also benefit from descending to a lower altitude. People with very mild symptoms may continue ascending but should go at a much slower pace. However, if a person experiences even slight symptoms, they should alert others. Those with more severe symptoms should rest, consume plenty of fluids, and avoid anything that may affect blood oxygen levels, such as smoking.
Descending: Moving to a lower altitude is usually the best action to take if a person develops symptoms of altitude sickness. Once acclimatized they may be able to ascend once more. Pure oxygen: Giving pure oxygen can help a person with severe breathing problems caused by altitude sickness.
Physicians at mountain resorts commonly provide this treatment. A Gamow bag: This portable, plastic hyperbaric chamber can be inflated with a foot pump and is used when a rapid descent is not possible.
Painkillers: Acetaminophens, such as Tylenol, can be taken for headaches. Ibuprofen , an anti-inflammatory medicine, can also help. However, this medication may cause some side effects, including a pins and needles feeling in the face, fingers, and toes, excessive urination, and blurred vision in rare cases.
Dexamethasone: This is a steroid hormone that can suppress immune activity and inflammation. It can reduce the incidence of acute altitude sickness and other complications. However, the medication has some possible side effects, including stomach pain , depression , and euphoria.
Nifedipine: This is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker doctors commonly prescribe to treat high blood pressure.
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