High Altitude Sickness

ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS

-Also known as HIGH ALTITUDE SICKNESS Usually develops above the height of
2500 meters but may develop above 2200-2300 m.

WHAT IS AMS?

Failure to acclimatise with the decreasing amount of oxygen available above
the height of 2500m results in Acute Mountain Sickness.

Causes of AMS

-Low Pressure/less Oxygen.

-Lack of fluid n the body.

-Rapid assend.low Hypothermia

S/S OF MILD AMS:

• Headache.
• Loss of appetite.
• Sleeplessness
• Nausea /vomiting
• Shortness of breath .
• Tiredness

HOW TO CONFIRM?

-Tandem-walk test.
-Mathematical questioning.

TREATMENT OF AMS

-Stay Where the symptoms started
-If not get better

DESCENT,DESCENT
AND
DESCENT

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema & High Altitude Cerebral Edema

• S/S OF “HAPE”

• Shortness of breath at rest.
• Unusual fatigue.
• High pulse rate.
• Drowsiness.
• Less urine output.
• Cough with lot of sputum.
• Chest pain.
• Blueness of lips, tongue.

S/S OF “HACE”

• Severe headache.
• Behavioral changes.
• Ataxia like a drunken man.
• Unconsciousness.
• Vomiting, irritability.
• Mental confusion.
• Double/blurred vision.

KEY NOTES
• Any one symptom may indicate the onset of AMS at high
altitude.
• The best treatment for AMS is prevention.
Ascend-Descend-Re ascend.

RULES ON GOING HIGH:

– Go up slowly.
-Climb high but sleep in low.
-Stay at the same altitude if symptoms develop.
-Take rest at same altitude.
-Drink plenty of fluids.
-Avoid alcoholic drinks and Tabaco
-Do not worry and panic.
-Do not leave your friend.

Ascending towards the high altitude can often leave us breathless due to the very low percentage of oxygen available in that altitude. It is the known fact that percentage of oxygen available is inversely proportional to the increase in altitude. Acclimatization of every trekker is necessary in ever trek. Normally a person feels drowsy,tired and the breathe becomes shortest like never before,and has constant desire of urination,which is the normal setbacks which comes with trekking. In order to avoid all these drawbacks we design our itinerary with all the required acclimatization plan and moderate walk that is 450 meters a day in sleeping elevation.

We make sure that our trekkers are properly hydrated,well fed with appropriate amount of carbohydrates, and have layers available for protection from harmful sun to avoid the dehydration. About 75% of people feel some symptoms like nausea,fatigue and trouble sleeping. These are normally termed as Acute Mountain Symptom(AMS) which must get normal with the acclimatization. At the time of ascend it is very important to listen your own body.

Nowadays,after consultation with a proper physicians we also avail the medicines like ibuprofen,which can treat the symptoms of mild altitude sickness such as headache and nausea. Diam-ox(Acetazolamide) ,a respiratory stimulant which helps the body to metabolize more oxygen.