people always laugh at me when i warn them of altitude sickness.
but i've had a handful of family and friends who have experienced it.
headaches, vomiting, one friend's mom even needing an oxygen tank!
going from sea level to 6,327 feet can throw your body out of whack.
if you are traveling to the mountains this summer,
here are a few altitude sickness tips.
Preventing Altitude Sickness
- drink plenty of water.
i warn people to start drinking way more water than normal about two weeks prior to their visit.
and take lots of h2o with you on your adventures.
-acclimate gradually.
start out slow and steady when heading out on a hike or climb.
-take it easy on the booze.
alcohol will hit you a lot harder so be careful when you head out to the cowboy bar.
*the following tips on treating altitude sickness are brought to you by Valerie Johnston at
Healthline.com.
Treating the Three Types of Altitude Sickness
The world is indeed getting smaller, and as that happens, more
people are pushing the limits of where humans can go for adventure.
Some people head up into the mountains just to enjoy some new
scenery. Others like to push their own limits, participating in all-terrain
races up and down mountains. Whatever the case, travelers and trekkers of all
types need to be aware of the effects of altitude sickness. This form of
illness can affect all sorts of people, particularly those that live at lower
altitudes and are accustomed to the atmospheric conditions of those areas.
Higher altitudes differ from lower altitudes in a few ways. First, their air is
thinner and air pressure is lower as the altitude rises. This means that the
body has less access to oxygen, and the changes in air pressure can cause their
own issues, as will be discussed. Beyond that, the air tends to be drier at
higher altitudes. This, combined with the fact that the air is thinner, results
in decreased athletic ability: Any amount of exertion can result in dehydration
and exhaustion at very high altitudes.
Read on to learn about the three types of
altitude sickness and how they can affect the body at higher
altitudes.
Acute Mountain Sickness
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the most basic form of
altitude sickness, and it comes from rising in altitude at a rate that is
faster than your body is able to adjust. This is because of the rapid change in
environment that you experience as you ascend. The thinner air causes a variety
of symptoms if the individual rises too quickly, including dizziness, headaches,
and decreased appetite. This form of altitude sickness is brought on by lack of
oxygen as well as lack of moisture, as dehydration tends to be a problem for
people who are experiencing AMS. This form of altitude sickness feels like
fairly common nausea, and the way to combat the effects of this type of
altitude sickness is to descend the mountain.
High-Altitude Cerebral Edema
Beyond AMS, the lack of oxygen can have much more extreme
effects on the body, such as a high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). The latter
part of that phrase refers to a lack of oxygen traveling to the brain, leading
to confusion, nausea, and loss of physical coordination. HACE is considered
more dangerous than AMS and can even result in coma or death. If you are
ascending with an individual that starts to act in a way that is out of the
ordinary, characterized by irrational behavior, you should suspect HACE. The
best way to test for this condition is to conduct a brief coordination test. If
the individual is unable to walk in a straight line, you should descend as
quickly as possible.
High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema
A third type of altitude sickness is a high-altitude pulmonary
edema (HAPE). HAPE is different from the other two forms of altitude sickness
in that the previous forms come about as the result of a lack of oxygen. HAPE
arises as a result of another change in the environment at higher
altitudes—lower air pressure. When the air pressure is too low, fluid can begin
to gather in the lungs. When this occurs, the individual may start to feel
symptoms that are similar to the other forms of altitude sickness, in addition
to taking on a pale complexion, with shortness of breath and tightness in the
chest, among other symptoms. Treating HAPE is similar to treating AMS and HACE:
The individual should move down in altitude in order to gain access to better
air pressure and more oxygen.
~Valerie
Johnston is a health and fitness writer located in East Texas. With ambitions
of one day running a marathon, writing for Healthline.com
ensures
she keeps up-to-date on all of the latest health and fitness news!
