Expert Tips to Avoid Altitude Sickness

 February 24, 2019

Altitude sickness refers to the symptoms offered in high altitudes. Most travelers experience the symptoms of Altitude Sickness while traveling above 2500m of altitude. Any travelers are likely to suffer from Altitude sickness. With the amount of oxygen in every breath you take, our body then tries to adapt the attitude, but we may suffer from Altitude sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). If you are going for a trek to high altitude, then it’s good for you to know about altitude sickness before beginning your trek.

You should not underestimate altitude sickness as it may take a serious form if you ignore it and don’t listen to your body. You may not lose your life but will definitely spoil your trekking experience with altitude sickness. If you are well aware of altitude sickness, then you can adjust well at high altitude but you can also help others under such situations in its prevention and treatment.

What are the symptoms of Altitude Sickness or AMS? : Symptoms of Altitude Sickness

It is better to know about the symptoms of altitude sickness so that you can heal or treat it by yourself quickly. Altitude Sickness is not specific, so it can vary from person to person. Some of the symptoms that appear are:-

• Headache is the first and the most common symptom of Altitude Sickness
• Dizziness and faintness
• Loss of appetite
• Shortness of Breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fatigue or weakness
• Persistent rapid pulse.
• Not feeling like eating, feeling weak and tired

Altitude sickness can affect to your brain and lungs. You become confused therefore you may faint and you may not be able to walk straight. You can see your lips and fingernails to be blue or grey in color. If so, then the condition or serious and it may be dangerous if not treated quickly.

What are the tips to Avoid Altitude sickness? : Tips to Avoid Altitude sickness.

• You should not feel panic with the symptoms of altitude sickness. It is natural, when you are at a high altitude it can be treated by acclimatizing your body to that altitude which your body used to get before.
• You can use oxygen or a specially designed pressure chamber in order to treat altitude sickness.
• You should drink enough water to keep your body hydrated by maintaining a water level.
• You can also take medicine for altitude sickness under prescription by a doctor.
• You should remove taking caffeine and alcohol at a high altitude.
• You can also use home remedies medicine as garlic and cloves, as garlic thins the blood and increases blood flow and cloves support the body to be more efficient oxygen. Adequate consumption of these herbs will definitely help you to avoid the attitude sickness.

Some Trekking Routes that Might Cause AMS

Trekking above 3500 meters from the sea level may cause acute mountain sickness. So most of the trekking in the Everest region and Some trekking in the Annapurna region may cause such problems. Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Langtang Gosainkunda Trek, Annapurna Circuit Trek, Manaslu Circuit Trek, and trekking in the Kanchenjunga area are major risky trekking of AMS.