What Is Acute Mountain Sickness? (High Altitude Sickness)
Hikers, skiers and adventurers who travel to high altitudes can sometimes develop Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). It typically occurs above 8000 feet or 2400 meter above sea level.
What causes AMS?
As we go to higher altitudes, the oxygen level and decreased air pressure. AMS happens when your body has not acclimatized to the changing conditions of high altitudes
Following are the symptoms.
FOR MILD AMS
- Headache.
- Dizziness
- Fatigue.
- Shortness of breath.
- Loss of appetite.
- Nausea
- Disturbed sleep
FOR MODERATE AMS
- Decreased coordination
- Severe headache
- Other mild level symptoms with increased effect
FOR SEVERE AMS
- Inability to walk.
- Decreasing mental status.
- Pulmonary edema, where fluid starts filling up in lungs.
- Cerebral edema, where fluid fills up between brain and skull.
Treatment
- Returning to lower altitudes ASAP.
- Reducing your activity level.
- Resting one day to acclimate before moving to higher altitudes.
- Keep hydrated always.
If you show any signs of moderate and severe level of AMS, please consult a doctor as hospitalization maybe required.
Never ignore even the smallest of the symptoms as it is fully capable of growing into something that can kill you! If you like this blog, please show some love by upvoting and resteeming this. Cheers!
I have witnessed a Korean mountain biker who succumbed to AMS and had to be airlifted by the Nepalese Army's helicopter to the Grande Hospital for medical attention. He participated in the Yak Ru High Altitude Mountain Bike Race held in the Annapurna Mountain Range, Nepal in 2014.
He displayed most of the observable symptoms in the Moderate & Acute stages. He was lucky that a doctor with the relevant expertise was with the race support crew.
PS: This race is organised annually by Steemian @sunilcsharma.
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NOTE: Your participation is through commenting on the challenge photos I post, not posting photos
AMS is real. I see it in my line of work all the time. The biggest issue with AMS is that there is lack of awareness. It could be easily avoided or minimized but a lot of high altitude adrenaline seekers often get it for one simple reason, ignorance!
One simple rule of thumb is that you don’t ascend more than 300 meters beyond 4000 meters per day when you are climbing high mountains.
You need to give your body enough time to acclimatize.