High Altitude Sickness is also known as Acute Mountain Sickness. It happens due to the effect of decreased oxygen levels at high altitudes on the body when it hasn’t had sufficient time to adapt. Some of the major factors that increase altitude sickness as dehydration, rushing during hikes, inappropriate gear, and so on. Normally, it occurs from above 2500m to higher up. Most people feel short of breath as they acclimatize, however headaches, vomiting, nausea, rapid pulse, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, and the onset of pulmonary edema or fluid in the lungs are serious symptoms of altitude sickness. Sometimes altitude sickness can be fatal and may cause more difficulty for trekkers during the trek.
Well, now let’s learn about the prevention method of altitude sickness in the below-sub headings.
Drink an abundance of Water
Getting enough water can also overcome altitude sickness while trekking in the Himalayas of Nepal. At high altitudes, the chances of getting dehydration are very high, as a result, the problems regarding breathing also increase. According to many previous climbers, the liquids like water, juices, tea, and fruits help a lot. Drinking such things can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change, cause your body to overheat, and lead to constipation and kidney stones. Drinking plenty of water may help prevent and relieve constipation, especially in people who generally don’t drink enough water. Thus, during the trek of Everest base camp was forced to drink five liters per day, without exceptions. But while on a Helicopter tour to EBC, you need not need to be worried about the AMS because the helicopter is on standby there with an oxygen cylinder.
Avoid dramatic gain in elevation
Trekking at higher altitudes should avoid big single-day gains in elevation. A common fallacy about trekking at high altitudes is that physical condition dictates the body’s ability to fend off altitude sickness. This causes many people who are “in good shape” to ignore the rules of acclimatization, go too high too fast, and have problems. Your itinerary should factor in altitude gains and as a result, some hiking days will end early. Hold the pace, rest your legs, and hydrate.
Medication
Medication is for those who are suffering from some kind of disease. For those who only get altitude sickness after the arrival, the best treatment for altitude sickness is descent, but medication can help with the symptoms. Consult a doctor before use. Here are some lists of medications that might come in handy during the trip.
Ibuprofen: it can be used to treat the symptoms of mild altitude illness including headaches and nausea.
Diamox (Acetazolamide): It is a respiratory stimulant that assists the body metabolizes more oxygen, especially at night, thereby accelerating the process of acclimatization. Furthermore, it can be used as a prophylactic, particularly by those making unavoidably large ascents.
Severe Problems
While trekking in the Himalayas of Nepal, if the trekkers feel unusually short of breath, they should immediately descend 2,000 feet i.e. 600 meters, no matter the time of day as severe problems can be truly life-threatening for altitude sickness.
Moreover, High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), surplus fluid in the lungs, and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), puffiness of the brain, are rare but life-threatening conditions that need an instantaneous drop and medical concentration.
Eat a lot of food
As we all know our body functions as food. Our body is doing more work than usual so make sure to stay nourished and full of carbohydrates. While trekking eating good food at a good place also plays a vital role to determine whether your journey will be worth it or not. In the case of Nepal, there is a plethora of options for food, from Nepali cuisine to western food.
For a dependable snack, Nepal has embraced the Snickers bar wholeheartedly and it can be found even in the tiniest villages (and for very cheap). Too much sugar, yes, but of good things like nuts and chocolate. Do a good deed and buy some for your porters and guide whenever possible. Thus, to overcome altitude sickness eat a lot of healthy food.
Climb high sleep low
While trekking, trekkers should not rush in ahead of altitude. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. Hence as the trek begins, do not push hard to get higher quickly. Most of the westerners are flatlanders, not used to higher elevations, and as the elevation raises the level of oxygen in the air decreases creating respiratory problems.
So, to cope with the sudden change in elevation, which is, of course, the shrinking of oxygen level in the air, one should first begin to adapt to the low oxygen level at a relatively lower altitude during the trek. As the trek goes higher, practice gradual acclimatization. Rest a day or couple at a place where your body has begun to adapt to the oxygen level. Slowly, the body gets used to the higher altitude allowing you to take pleasure in the trek wholly.
Listen to your body
By following the above-mentioned method, you will greatly enlarge your odds of staying healthy throughout your trek, but everybody reacts differently to altitude thus pay close attention to how you feel. To get your body in shape and to adjust environment, every trek itinerary has some days for acclimatization, so you shouldn’t be afraid to use them. During your whole trek, stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and have layers available for protection from the powerful sun. Avoid alcohol and other substances. Monitor yourself and always communicate any health concerns to your group.
An estimated 75% of people feel influenced by altitude, mostly in the form of nausea, headaches, fatigue, and trouble sleeping. These are mild manifestations of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Mild AMS should not obstruct normal activity and the symptoms should collapse as acclimatization occurs. As long as the symptoms are mild, it’s generally okay to continue hiking up at a moderate rate. If feeling poorly persists or worsens, turn around.
At last, we hope this article helps you to learn about altitude sickness and its prevention method.
