When planning a hike or vacation in a mountainous area (more than 2000 meters above sea level), it is worth remembering that there is a mountain sickness that develops due to a decrease in pressure at high altitude. As a result, the body cannot quickly compensate for the lack of oxygen and malfunctions.
Professional climbers noted that the development of mountain (altitude) disease is affected not only by the terrain, but also by the individual capabilities of the body. So, from the entire group of tourists several people can get sick, when the rest will feel good. This condition is more prone to men than women, and young people compared to older people.
Such factors as alcohol and coffee can trigger the onset of altitude sickness. In addition, the following factors become predisposing factors: overwork, high physical activity and a long absence of sleep; it can be hard for overweight people, chronic and acute lung diseases.
The natural conditions conducive to the development of mountain sickness include wind, humidity and a sharp temperature drop.
Tourists wishing to take advantage of every day of rest in the mountains should be careful. They, for example, ski on the first day, and then, even if they feel unwell, continue to ski on the second day, endangering themselves.
Mountain sickness, clinical manifestations
There is an acute, subacute and chronic form of the disease, but the symptoms are similar, the difference is only in the speed of their development. So, in acute mountain sickness, signs appear and grow rapidly, in this case urgent medical attention is required, and the subacute form develops slowly and lasts a long time.
The most common symptoms are flatulence, headache, shortness of breath, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, apathy, and poor sleep. Breathing becomes frequent and deep, the pulse quickens, and the pressure decreases. There is cyanosis of the lips.
Chronic altitude sickness is manifested by reduced working capacity, shortness of breath and cough. Dizziness, increased heart rate and fainting are not ruled out, the skin on the face can turn red-blue. Complications of this condition are heart failure, arrhythmia and thromboembolism.
An acute manifestation of the disease is acute pulmonary and brain edema. Pulmonary edema begins with a headache, then shortness of breath appears, breathing quickens, it ends with a cough with frothy sputum and coma.
With cerebral edema , headache, hallucinations, blurred consciousness, shaky gait appear. Nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and palpitations may occur. Damage to the brain, as well as damage to the lungs, ends in a coma.
Diagnosis of the disease is carried out according to clinical symptoms on the spot, in a hospital they can already detect changes in the blood and on the ECG.
Mountain sickness treatment
A mild illness does not require treatment, but in severe cases, diuretics and oxygen should be started immediately. The main thing is to lower a person lower, to a level of less than 2000 meters. If the mountain sickness is moderate, then you need to drink less fluids, do not eat salt and foods that cause bloating. From a headache, you need to take analgesics, in addition, you should drink antiemetics. Diuretic drugs are taken to reduce intracranial pressure. In addition, breathing exercises and oxygen inhalations are performed.
If the symptoms do not disappear for about three days, a person should not be in the mountains.
Mountain sickness, prevention
Before climbing, a person must undergo a medical examination, as well as prepare in a pressure chamber with reduced pressure. The rise should be gradual, stepwise. If the height is more than 3000 meters, then you can climb 300 - 600 meters daily.