Various diseases that arise due to height & bull; hello healthy

Altitude sickness is a disease that commonly affects mountaineers at an altitude of more than 2,000 m above sea level. It happens because, as you rise to that altitude, your body has to adjust to the decrease in the amount of oxygen that is available. This altitude sickness has three forms, viz Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) which falls into the mild category, as well High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) which is included in the weight category. According to altitude.org, every year a climber dies from altitude sickness. Therefore, before you and your friends climb the mountain, invite them to read the following information about altitude sickness!

1.AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness)

Acute Mountain Sickness or AMS varies from mild to severe, and the main symptoms are due to the accumulation of fluid around the brain. Usually, symptoms appear within 12 hours of climbing. If the victim is currently at the same altitude, symptoms usually go away quickly over a few hours, however if a person has slow acclimatization it can take about 3 days to recover. AMS will probably reappear if they rise even higher, because if they are at new heights, acclimatization is bound to happen again.

Symptoms and signs of acute mountain sickness

A diagnosis of AMS is made when a person has experienced elevation in the last few days, and also:

• The victim has a headache (usually throbbing and worsening when bending over or lying down)
• Fatigue and weakness
• Loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
• Dizzy
• Lack of sleep, difficulty sleeping, frequent waking and periodic breathing

How to treat acute mountain sickness

Since this is a form of altitude sickness, the best way to deal with it is to climb down the mountain. Painkillers can relieve headaches, but they cannot treat the condition. Acetazolamide can help you, especially if you need to be at the same altitude, plus rest for 1-2 days to recover faster. It's important to remember that you don't climb any higher occasionally if you have AMS disease.

If your friend has AMS symptoms accompanied by confusion, unsteadiness, very severe headaches, or vomiting, they may have a life-threatening condition known as HACE.

2. HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema / plateau brain edema)

HACE is caused by the accumulation of fluid in and around the brain. Usually, AMS symptoms will get worse when HACE is about to reach (but HACE will come on very quickly, so AMS symptoms sometimes go unnoticed).

Symptoms and signs of HACE

A HACE diagnosis is made when a person has been at high altitude in recent days, as well as:

• The victim has a severe headache (it doesn't get better despite taking ibuprofen, paracetamol, or aspirin).
• Loss of physical coordination (ataxia):
  • Clumsiness: victims have difficulty doing simple things, such as tying shoelaces or packing their bags.
  • Difficulty walking and falling.
• Decreased level of consciousness:
  • The victim will show a loss of mental abilities such as memory or numeracy (or refuse to take simple mental tests).
  • The victim will become confused, drowsy, semi-conscious, unconscious (and will lose their life if not treated promptly).
• Persistent nausea, vomiting.
• Behavior changes (uncooperative, aggressive, or apathetic).
• Hallucinations, blurred or double vision.

How to handle HACE

Going down the mountain is the most effective treatment of HACE and it should not be delayed. You can use a Gamow bag (a bag to carry people inside, usually used for victims of altitude sickness) for temporary measures, and if available, also provide oxygen and dexamethasone .

3. HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema / plateau pulmonary edema)

HAPE occurs due to the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. The most important sign of this condition is shortness of breath. HAPE may present itself without the symptoms of AMS (it occurs in more than 50% of cases). Severe cases of HAPE can also develop HACE at a later stage. HAPE can develop very quickly, in about 1-2 hours, or it can be gradual over a day. This condition often develops on the second night at a new altitude. HAPE can also develop when descending from a height. This is why HAPE is the deadliest altitude sickness. HAPE is more likely to occur in people with colds or chest infections, but it's often considered pneumonia (chest infection).

Symptoms and signs of HAPE

Decreased physical performance (such as fatigue and weakness) and coughing are often early signs of HAPE, as well as:

• Hard to breathe:
  • Early stage: more breathless than usual and it takes longer to return to normal breathing.
  • Advanced stage: marked shortness of breath when climbing, and takes a long time to return to normal, then progresses to shortness of breath when resting.
  • The victim will become breathless while lying flat and prefer to sleep propped up.
• The resting respiratory rate increases with HAPE (at sea level, the respiratory rate is 8-12 breaths per minute at rest. At 6000 m, the normal respiratory rate is 20 breaths per minute).
• Dry cough.

How to handle HAPE

The most important treatment is going down the mountain. You can provide additional oxygen or increase the air pressure around the victim by putting it in a Gamow bag, but this is not worth going down the mountain quickly. Some medications can help, but usually they can only be used by a trained doctor or paramedic. Nifedipine can be used to open blood vessels in the lungs.