Many don’t realize it, but people die of altitude sickness each year. If you are planning to travel and / or dive at altitudes of 2500 meters (8000 feet) above sea level or higher, don’t miss this important information.
What is Altitude Sickness?
Sometimes referred to as the altitude bends, altitude sickness is a pathological effect which high altitude can have on humans. There are two major contributing factors: Exercising vigorously and ascending more than 500 meters per day. It doesn’t matter how physically fit you are; even Olympic athletes can get it. Altitude sickness occurs because the air at high altitudes has lower oxygen content than air at lower altitudes.
Three Forms of Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness arrives in three forms. The first is Mild Altitude Sickness, which is commonly referred to as Acute Mountain Sickness or AMS. AMS has similar symptoms to those that accompany a hangover: Nausea, fatigue, and a headache. Mild altitude sickness is fairly common, and its effects vary from one person to another, with some individuals suffering more than others. If you start to feel symptoms of AMS, you are at risk of developing a more severe form of altitude sickness.
The second form of altitude sickness is HAPE, or High Altitude Pulmonary Edema. This involves a dangerous buildup of fluid inside the lungs; it prevents them from opening fully with each breath. HAPE usually develops at altitudes greater than 2,500 meters, and typically takes two to three days to manifest. Sufferers often develop a cough that produces frothy pink or white sputum, the lips often turn blue, and body temperature can increase. With HAPE, it is vital to get to a lower altitude immediately to prevent worse symptoms up to and including death.
The third form of altitude sickness is HACE, or High Altitude Cerebral Edema. This involves a build-up of fluid in the brain, and requires immediate, urgent treatment. Symptoms of HACE include a serious headache, lethargy, and vomiting, which progress to confusion, unsteadiness, drowsiness, and ultimately, a coma. It takes only a few hours for HACE to kill a person; it occurs in about one percent of people who ascend to heights greater than 3,000 meters. With HACE, evacuation to a lower altitude is vital.
How to Prevent Altitude Sickness
There are a number of herbal remedies that have been marketed using claims of mountain sickness prevention. These remedies can have dangerous side effects and in some cases, they can make AMS worse. Acetazolamide (Diamox) is the only drug is used to prevent altitude sickness. It is available by prescription only.
If you plan to travel to high altitude for scuba diving, give yourself plenty of time to acclimate to your surroundings. The body has an incredible ability to acclimatize to high altitude, but acclimatization takes time; it takes the average individual about a week to adapt to an altitude of 5,000 meters. If you have any unexplainable symptoms or experience symptoms that you believe are related to altitude sickness, HAPE, or HACE, seek medical attention and make plans to go to a lower elevation. Doing so can prevent worse consequences.