| Altitude Sickness |
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| Monday, 30 October 2006 04:23 | |
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How Can I Prevent Illness at High Altitude? Begin your trip in good health and excellent physical condition, obtain all the recommended immunizations for your trip, and follow food and water precautions on the way so that preventable illnesses do not ruin your trip. It is important to understand the concept of altitude acclimatization and to recognize the symptoms of altitude illness. The discussion of altitude illness in your health information supplements this material and provides more details on acclimatization and symptoms of altitude illness. Most treks are designed to allow time for acclimatization while trying to follow a schedule that accommodates peoples’ time constraints. Certain aspects of the trek organization and schedule that may seem illogical are designed to maximize acclimatization. For instance, once at altitude, elevation gains between camps are limited: you may climb higher during the day but descend to sleep (climb high, sleep low). Extra nights are spent at the same elevation after each 2,000-3,000-foot gain over 12,000 feet. Drink a lot of water. Although pulmonary edema and cerebral edema are problems of fluid retention, increased water intake facilitates adaptation to altitude. Increased fluids help the kidney to excrete excess salts that bind extra water in tissues. Drink more than you feel you need. Water losses at altitude are very large and dehydration is commonplace. Most of this water is lost as vapor due to increased respiration in a cold, dry atmosphere with very low vapor pressure. Eating is also important. Diet should be high in carbohydrates, with adequate amounts of protein to rebuild muscle that is being broken down by strenuous exercise. Acetazolamide (Diamox) can facilitate acclimatization, prevent acute mountain sickness and treat mild cases of mountain sickness. It is also very helpful for altitude insomnia and should be used in preference to sleeping pills or Valium, which are dangerous at altitude. Diamox produces faster, more regular breathing with higher oxygen levels during sleep. Diamox can be very helpful, but it must not be used as a substitute to push through symptoms of altitude sickness. There have been cases of high altitude cerebral and pulmonary edema in people taking Diamox. Most persons do not need to use this medication routinely at altitude if their trip allows adequate time for ascent. References Hackett PH, Roach RC. Current Concepts: High –Altitude Illness. NEJM 2001; 345:107-114. Hackett PH, Roach RC: High-Altitude medicine. In, Auerbach PA, ed. Wilderness Medicine. St Louis: CV Mosby, 4th Ed 2001:1-43. Zafren K, et al: High-altitude medicine. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 1997 Feb; 15(1):191-222. Hultgren HN, & West JB: The safety of trekking at high altitude after coronary bypass surgery, questions and answers, JAMA, Oct. 21, 1988; 260:2218. Rennie D: Will mountain trekkers have heart attacks? JAMA, Feb. 17 1989; 261:1045-1046. Hultgren HN: Coronary heart disease and trekking. Journal of Wilderness Medicine, 1990; 1(3):154:161. @Reproduced Courtesy of Mountain Sobek
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| Last Updated on Monday, 30 October 2006 04:27 |
