High Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness happens when one ascends quickly in the altitude of above 2500m. So the ascending above 2500 m from the sea level requires gradual ascending with some acclimatization day to adapt your body in the mountain. When your body adapts the level of oxygen intake you are likely to reach to higher altitude.
High altitude sickness is of two types:
1. Mild Altitude Sickness
2. Severe Altitude Sickness
Symptoms of Mild Altitude Sickness:
Mild altitude sickness is not alarming condition, but you have to stay at the same altitude and wait for 24-48 hrs and if the symptoms are gone you can ascend and if still the symptoms remains you should descend at least 500 m and see how it goes..
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Exhaustions
How to avoid Altitude sickness:
- Start trekking at low altitude as much as possible
- Above 2500m ascend 500m per day
- Keep hydrated and avoid alcohol
- Have some acclimatization day in your itinerary
Medication:
2 days before of your trekking start taking acetazolamide (Diamox) twice a day and continue it up to a day after the highest altitude you have reached, Which is used as prevention of altitude sickness.
Symptoms of Severe Altitude sickness:
In severe altitude sickness the fluid buildup either on the lungs or the brain which is very serious conditions and it requires immediate medical attentions:
- A bubbling sound in the chest
- Worsening breathlessness
- Coughing up pink, frothy liquid
- Confusion leading to loss of consciousness
What to do if you have symptoms:
If you have mild symptoms then you wait 24 to 48 hrs and if the symptoms gone you can ascend 300-500m per day. If the symptoms get worsen go down and wait.
In case of severe symptoms go down and seek immediate medical support. This might need emergency evacuation to the city hospital.
And our itineraries have been designed considering the altitude sickness so we have put some 2 to 3 days as a acclimatization day which will help our clients to climb higher point and go down and sleep at lower altitude. And also our guide who are well familiar about the condition they will consult you during the trekking. Among major trekking routes in Nepal only Everest base camp trekking starting from Lukla, directly starts at 2800 m otherwise the other routes goes gradually and provides good time to get acclimatized.
Oxygen Level Acc. to Altitude
