\Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) in another word is one of the serious problems many trekkers are facing often in their trekking span. The most important medical consideration while trekking in Nepal is "Prevention is better than cure” is applied to avoid AMS. The commonly appearing symptoms of AMS are as following.

• Nausea
• vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia/sleeplessness
• Persistent headache
• Dizziness and confusion
• Disorientation Weakness, fatigue, lassitude, heavy legs
• Slight swelling of hands and face
• Breathlessness or irregular breathing
• Less urine output

Escape/Avoidance of AMS:

• Acclimatization-After a 1000m ascent, stay one more night for acclimatization.
• Do not make rapid ascent.
• No alcohol, no sleeping pills, no smoking, no oily food, no hard hot drinks that contains more caffeine, no sex.
• Drink more fluid 3-4 liters day-clean water, boiled and filtered or medicated, tea, soup, and juice.
• No heavy backpacks. 10 –12 kilograms OK.
• Climb higher, always sleep lower.
• Ascend less than 300m a day above 3000m of altitude.
• Never trek alone.

Treatment of AMS:

• Descent is the best remedy. Do not wait for the helicopters or medical help.
• Three medications have been proven useful.
• Diamox-125 mg can prevent mild symptoms of AMS.
• Nifedipine ordinarily used to treat heart problems and high blood pressure.
• Escomethasone, an important drug to carry for emergency.