Altitude Sickness, Cause, Symptoms, Treatment

Altitude sickness is medical condition that can happen when you get rapid altitude gain then there is imbalance between atmospheric pressure and blood pressure. We get less amount of Oxygen when breath then lower altitude then our body get trouble to adjust in this altitude and this is called High Altitude Sickness. Headache, loss of appetite, Nausea and vomiting, dizziness are the common symptoms of high altitude sickness that is call (AMS) and getting seriously worsen call (HAPE) and (HACE) which can be life threatening as well if we do careless. Recognizing symptoms in time and descending to lower elevation is the key of the solution.

Type of Altitude Sickness

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) this is the most common and mildest form of high Altitude Sickness. Light headache, loss of appetite, Dizziness, Nausea and vomiting, loss of sleeping, tiredness are the symptoms of AMS which remain 3 to4 hour then will be disappears.
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) In this condition people get affected in Lungs after AMS worsen. It create fluid Lungs then Oxygen condition go down in the body and difficult to breath. It is serious condition that is medical emergency so we have to quickly rescue otherwise, it can be death as well.
High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)This is the most serious condition of altitude sickness that can happen when your brain get swell due to altitude sickness. It is emergency condition that need emergency hospital care. If AMS turns HAPE and HACE then it can be deadly as well, recognizing symptoms in time is smarter to prevent from worsen condition
The Risk factors of altitude Sickness
The more we go higher elevation, the more we have risk for altitude sickness
Alcohol and drugs can greatly increase the high risk of altitude sickness in the high altitude
Ascending quickly in the high altitude above 2400 m is risky for altitude sickness and fly and drive to high elevation is more risk than hiking in the high altitude
It is high risk for chronic pulmonary disease above 2400 m high altitude

How to diagnosed High Altitude Sickness?

According to symptoms and physical checkup altitude healthcare doctor can diagnosed high altitude sickness. As soon as possible we have to descend down patient to lower elevation where advance medical care possible. Doctor find problem by the help of blood pressure, heart rate and breathing by the help of Ox miter. Doctor may ask question about history of travel as well. If patient has serious problem in brain and lungs then checkup by machine like: X-rays, EKG, and MRI. Drink more than normal day, keep worm, drink garlic soup, sleep well and try to eat smart is the traditional way to be save from altitude sickness as well.

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