Altitude Sickness in Nepal : A Detailed Outline
Altitude Sickness in very common in the places which are at high altitude. It is said that the area where the altitude reach above 2500 m is where altitude sickness occurs. Altitude sickness in Nepal is the major concern for trekkers. Trekkers who are coming from abroad often find it challenging to trek at high elevation area. Some of the major trekking destinations like Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek are very popular among trekkers worldwide. However, people are more most likely to suffer from altitude sickness in those regions.
What is Altitude Sickness ?
Altitude sickness refers to feeling uncomfortable in an area with a low level of oxygen. If we go walking or trekking in a higher-altitude place, then it will be difficult for us to adjust to that environment. We might feel nausea, headache, and even become unconscious. Sometimes if your body is very weak, it can get worse and reach even death. Such a problem is what we call Altitude Sickness. We also call it AMS, which stands for Acute Mountain Sickness. In extreme cases, it is called HAPE(High Altitude Pulmonary Edema)and HACE(High Altitude Cerebral Edema). HAPE and HACE are fatal and even life-threatening. We become the victim of Altitude sickness because our bodies do not get enough time to adapt to the lower air pressure and the decreasing oxygen level that occurs at higher elevations. Mostly, hikers and adventure seekers are expected to experience altitude sickness.
High altitude is defined as 8000-12000 ft. above sea level, while 12000-18000 is called very high altitude. If the altitude is above 18000 is conidered extremely high altitude.
What are the causes of Altitude Sickness?
Altitude sickness develops when people climb to great heights at a rapid pace. The clear reason is that the body’s ability to adjust to a decreasing level of oxygen at higher altitude reduces with the overall air pressure. This results in abnormally low blood levels of oxygen. Anybody, particularly trekkers, who does not utilize their time to acclimatize to a new altitude before moving ahead, has a higher risk of developing altitude sickness. For that, a gradual progression is required. A small body rest is needed, which is known as acclimatization.
Symptoms of Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness has many phases, from light to medium to severe. Mainly, it depends on each person’s body. It aslo depends on how long the person has walked or hiked along the high altitude area.
Some basic and light symptoms of altitude sickness include the following:
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Insomania
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heart rate
- Swelling of the body
What is the treatment of Altitude sickness ?
Facing altitude sickness while trekking is the most distressing matter for any trekker. Trekkers should have the knowledge about acclimatization before going on for trekking. In some cases, if they find symptoms of altitude sickness while going to a higher elevation area, then they should make themself ease and take a few moments of rest to acclimatize. If possible, you can move down towards a lower altitude to feel a little better.
Below are some pre-plans for treating Altitude Sickness
Acclimatization
Get proper acclimatization while you are trekking. It's better to take some time to rest or acclimatize right after reaching a place at a higher elevation. This will be very helpful to adjust your body and fight altitude sickness.
Gym workouts
Prior to trekking, it is advisable to have good workouts in the gym to maintain the fitness of your body. If the body is fit, then it will be easy for anyone to adjust to the new environment or altitude.
Meditation or breathing technique
Meditation is also another therapy to deal with acclimatization. Meditation will make you mentally fit and balanced. Likewise, breathing in and out will make your focus sharp and boost the metabolism of the body. This, as a result, will help a lot in surviving with altitude sickness.
If altitude sickness occurs while on the way to a higher altitude, then you can follow the tips below:
Taking Rest
It is highly recommended to take proper rest in a higher elevation area. If symptoms of altitude sickness occur, then taking rest can solve the problem.
Taking Medicine for Altitude sickness
It is again advisable to take the recommended medicine like Acetazolamide to survive altitude sickness.
Use temporary oxygen
Adding temporary oxygen to your packing list for trekking can be very helpful during trekking. Such temporary oxygen is easily available in the market, specifically in medical stores.
Conclusion
Altitude Sickness is a big issue when it comes to trekking. It is very important for trekkers to take safety measures before going for trekking. There is always a high risk of altitude sickness if you plan to trek places like Annapurna Base Camp or Everest Base Camp. Hence, being prepared in advance is the best thing you can do to overcome altitude sickness.
