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So as requested here is some info on High Altitude sickness (HAS) or also called Acute Mountain Sickness AMS)
First off a scenario, you fly into a city in the rocky mountains and then drive to an elevation above 8000 feet. You start having a headache, feel out of breath, & generally grumpy.
There are 2 main types of HAS , High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) fluid acculmates around the brain & High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), fluid collects in the airspaces of the lungs, (can you say drowning??).
The main cause is low oxygen content in the blood (hypoxia) due to the low barometric pressure that occures at altitudes above 8000 but as low as 6500.
Signs & symptoms are like dehydration or heat illness e.g. Headache, nausea with or without vomiting, unusual weariness (lassitude), insomnia, loss of appetite.
There are NO physical characteristics for either.
HACE includes bizarre changes in personality, & loss of coordination.
HAPE usually includes the symptom of a dry, unproductive cough (may progress to producing a froth or pinkish tinged sputum), & shortness of breath.
Symptoms progress and become more severe the longer the conditions are untreated.
Treatment is to decend in altitude at least 1000. There are certain prescription medications that can help such as acetazolaminde or dexamethasone.
Keep patient warm , try to limit physical activity expecially with HAPE,
So if you are going to a higher altitude consider making a slow, staged ascent. If possible camp no higher than 8000 feet the first night, increase elevation no more tha 1000-15000 feet per day.
If the trip starts at an altitude above 8500 spend 2 nights at that altitude before going higher. You may go higher during the day but return to a lower elevation to camp.
A high carbo diet started 1-2 days prior may help.
Avoid extreme exercise until acclimatized.
Stay hydrated.
So when we go up high out here if someone in our group is acting dehydrated but their urine is clear, we suspect AMS and have them decend.
Getting to a lower altitude is usually the best & only "first aid" treatment available.
We have a lot of paragliders who fly in the area and they sometimes drive over from the Seattle area and then fly up to 10-12k and sometimes report symptoms which go away when they decend.
First off a scenario, you fly into a city in the rocky mountains and then drive to an elevation above 8000 feet. You start having a headache, feel out of breath, & generally grumpy.
There are 2 main types of HAS , High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) fluid acculmates around the brain & High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), fluid collects in the airspaces of the lungs, (can you say drowning??).
The main cause is low oxygen content in the blood (hypoxia) due to the low barometric pressure that occures at altitudes above 8000 but as low as 6500.
Signs & symptoms are like dehydration or heat illness e.g. Headache, nausea with or without vomiting, unusual weariness (lassitude), insomnia, loss of appetite.
There are NO physical characteristics for either.
HACE includes bizarre changes in personality, & loss of coordination.
HAPE usually includes the symptom of a dry, unproductive cough (may progress to producing a froth or pinkish tinged sputum), & shortness of breath.
Symptoms progress and become more severe the longer the conditions are untreated.
Treatment is to decend in altitude at least 1000. There are certain prescription medications that can help such as acetazolaminde or dexamethasone.
Keep patient warm , try to limit physical activity expecially with HAPE,
So if you are going to a higher altitude consider making a slow, staged ascent. If possible camp no higher than 8000 feet the first night, increase elevation no more tha 1000-15000 feet per day.
If the trip starts at an altitude above 8500 spend 2 nights at that altitude before going higher. You may go higher during the day but return to a lower elevation to camp.
A high carbo diet started 1-2 days prior may help.
Avoid extreme exercise until acclimatized.
Stay hydrated.
So when we go up high out here if someone in our group is acting dehydrated but their urine is clear, we suspect AMS and have them decend.
Getting to a lower altitude is usually the best & only "first aid" treatment available.
We have a lot of paragliders who fly in the area and they sometimes drive over from the Seattle area and then fly up to 10-12k and sometimes report symptoms which go away when they decend.
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