Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness is also known as Acute Mountain Sickness, Acosta disease or Puna disorder caused by being at high altitude. The air pressure is low at areas of high altitude above 8,000 feet above sea level. A severe symptom of Acute Mountain Sickness leads to high altitude sickness.
Causes of Altitude Sickness
The percentage of oxygen in the air is about 21% and it remains unchanged up to 70,000 feet. The ratio of nitrogen and oxygen remains same in the air; it is the number of molecules per volume which drops as the altitude increases.
Dehydration may also contribute to the symptoms of altitude sickness. Altitude sickness occurs due to the rapid ascent and it can be prevented by ascending slowly on the mountains. In some cases altitude sickness can also be dangerous.
Symptoms of Altitude Sickness
The symptoms of altitude sickness appear in six to the hours after rise and it settles in one to two days.
Primary Symptoms
Headache is a primary symptom of altitude sickness so headache at an altitude above 2,400 meters or 8,000 feet indicates altitude sickness. Other symptoms may include;
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
- Fatigue, weakness
- Nose blood
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid pulse
- Drowsiness
- Diarrhea
- Swelling of hands, feet and face.
Severe Symptoms
Severe symptoms may indicate life threatening altitude sickness. These symptoms may include
Symptoms same as bronchitis
- Dry cough
- Fever
- Unsteady gait
- Increased nausea
- Loss of consciousness
The serious symptoms of altitude sickness starts from edema, there can be two types of edema, high altitude pulmonary edema or high altitude cerebral edema. High altitude edema can be due to dilation of cerebral blood vessels and high altitude pulmonary edema can be due to constriction in pulmonary circulation.
Altitude sickness warning
image by : wikipedia
Prevention of Altitude Sickness
Ascending slowly is the best way to avoid altitude sickness.
It can also be prevented by avoiding activities like skiing, hiking.
Avoid using alcohol within 24 hours at a place of high altitudes.
Keep yourself hydrated on the mountainous regions as it can also contribute to the altitude sickness.
Many people experience altitude sickness when they ascend to the high altitude’s areas. It is just a temporary illness and its symptoms disappear in one or two days.
