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High-Altitude
Illness: How to Avoid It and How to Treat It
Every year millions of people go to the mountains for backpacking, skiing,
mountain climbing and other activities. If you're planning a trip
to altitudes over 8,000 feet, talk with your doctor about high-altitude
illness (also called mountain sickness or altitude sickness).
What causes high-altitude illness?
The higher you climb above sea level, the less oxygen there is in the
air. The oxygen level becomes very low at altitudes above 8,000 feet.
This causes problems for people who normally live at lower altitudes because
their bodies aren't used to working on so little oxygen. If you stay
at a high altitude for a long time, your body gets used to the low oxygen
level, and you don't get sick from it.
The following are the 3 main types of high-altitude illness:
- Acute
mountain sickness
- High-altitude
pulmonary edema (also called HAPE), which affects the lungs
- High-altitude
cerebral edema (also called HACE), which affects the brain
- These
illnesses can be serious, but they can also be prevented.
How
can I prevent high-altitude illness?
Take your time traveling to higher altitudes. When you travel to a high
altitude, your body will begin adjusting right away to the lower amount
of oxygen in the air, but it takes several days for your body to adjust
completely. If you're healthy, you can probably safely go from sea
level to an altitude of 8,000 feet in a few days. But when you reach
an altitude above 8,000 feet, don't go up faster than 1,000 feet
per day. The closer you live to sea level, the more time your body will
need to get used to a high altitude. Plan your trip so your body has
time to get used to the high altitude before you start your physical
activity.
Sleep at an altitude that is lower than the altitude you are at during
the day. For example, if you ski at an elevation of 10,000 feet during
the day, sleep the night before and the night after at an elevation
of 8,500 feet.
How do I know if I'm getting high-altitude illness?
Some of the first signs of high-altitude illness are headache, lightheadedness,
weakness, trouble sleeping and an upset stomach. If you have these symptoms,
stop going up or go back down to a lower altitude until your symptoms
go away. More severe symptoms include difficulty breathing even while
you're resting, coughing, confusion and the inability to walk in
a straight line. If you get these symptoms, go to a lower altitude right
away and get help from a doctor.
What should I do if I get high-altitude illness?
The best treatment for any of the 3 high-altitude illnesses is to go
down to a lower altitude right away. But if you only have mild symptoms,
you may be able to stay at that altitude and let your body adjust. If
you do this, don't exercise at all--just rest until you feel better.
If you have severe symptoms, go down 1,500 to 2,000 feet right away
to see if your symptoms get better. Keep going down until your symptoms
go away completely.
Medicines that may be used to prevent or treat the symptoms of severe
high-altitude illness include acetazolamide (one brand name: Diamox)
and nifedipine (one brand name: Procardia).
Don't ignore signs of high-altitude illness. People can die of this
if they don't recognize the signs or if they don't believe their
illness is caused by the high altitude. When you have signs of high-altitude
illness, don't go higher until you feel better and your symptoms
have gone away completely.
Is it safe to go to a high altitude if I have a chronic illness like
heart disease or lung disease?
It depends on the type and severity of chronic illness you have. Most
people who have a chronic illness, such as heart or lung disease, can
safely spend time at a high altitude if their disease is under control.
People who have coronary artery disease, mild emphysema or high blood
pressure aren't at greater risk of high-altitude illness than people
who don't have these diseases. They also don't risk making their
disease worse by traveling to a high altitude. In addition, being overweight
does not increase the risk of getting high-altitude illness.
Some diseases make going to a high altitude very dangerous. People who
have sickle cell anemia shouldn't go to a high altitude. A high
altitude is also dangerous for people who have severe lung disease,
such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or severe emphysema,
and for people who have severe heart disease. If you have a chronic
disease, ask your doctor if it's safe for you to travel to a high
altitude.
What about children and high altitudes?
It's usually safe for children to go to high altitudes, but they're
more likely to get high-altitude illness because their bodies have a
hard time adjusting to the low oxygen level. A child may not be able
to recognize the symptoms of high-altitude illness, so parents and other
adults must carefully watch for any signs of high-altitude illness in
children. |
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