Acute Mountain Sickness

From the National Renewable Energy Laboratory

 

All About Altitude Sickness

Altitude illness is cause by the lack of oxygen in out thin mountain air. Altitude illness can affect anyone, regardless of age of physical condition in altitude above 6000 feet. The altitude illness seen most commonly is:

 

Acute Mountain Sickness (A.M.S.)

Acute Mountain sickness is a mild form of altitude sickness which affects 20% to 30% of visitors to Colorado . The symptoms are headache, nausea, vomiting and trouble sleeping. A.M.S. looks and feels like the “flu.” Most people experience the symptoms of A.M.S. are related to altitude, speed of ascent, physical exertion and prior acclimatization. Some people are particularly susceptible to A.M.S. and experience similar episodes with nausea; weakness dyspnea and “flu-like” malaise may begin 6 to 48 hours after ascent.

 

Treatment of A.M.S.

Most people with mild A.M.S. get better with no treatment at all. People with moderate or severe symptoms should see a doctor. Things that help:

1. Before your trip, maintain a good work/rest cycle, avoiding excessive work hours and last

minute packing.

2. Avoid alc oh ol, sleeping pills or narcotics, they may decrease ventilation, intensify hypoxemia

and make symptoms worse.

3. Drink plenty of fluids

4. Eat high-carb oh ydrate foods (rice, pasta, cereal) while avoiding fatty stuff

5. Avoid heavy exercise. Mild exercise is okay

6. Diamox ( acetazolamide ) 125mg. tablets taken twice a day is F.D.A. approved for prevention

and treatment of A.M.S. Although it was originally released as a diuretic, it also helps you

breathe deeper and faster. This allows you to get more oxygen. Diamox is especially helpful

with the insomnia and other symptoms of A.M.S.

7. Home oxygen will relieve symptoms. Home oxygen is safe, cheap and easy to use. It can be

used at night when symptoms are worse and off and on during the day as symptoms dictate.

8. If nothing else works, you can return to lower altitude.

 

Prevention of A.M.S.

People who get symptoms from high altitude can take several steps to prevent symptoms on their next visit to Colorado .

1. “Staging” or changing altitudes helps. If you are coming from sea level, it is better to spend

the night at 8,000 – 6,000 feet. This allows your body to adjust to the altitude and will help

you adjust to higher altitudes better.

2. Diamox may be taken one to two days prior to arrival. This will “prepare” your body for our

altitude .

3. Do not over-do on your first day or two.

4. Physical conditioning at sea level does not help.

 

Rapid ascent to high altitude can be uncomfortable for many people and dangerous for some. Headache and other symptoms of acute mountain sickness may be prevented by gradual ascent or by taking Diamox . Pulmanary edema occurs in a small percentage or people who quickly ascent to elevations above 8,000 feet. Those patients need to see a physican for oxygen therapy and descent to lower altitude.