Rapid Fire
High-Altitude Sickness
- 29 Nov 2024
- 2 min read
The recent death of a trekker from Kerala due to high-altitude sickness (HAS) or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) while attempting to scale a peak in Uttarakhand has brought attention to the dangers of trekking in the mountains.
- Popular trekking routes often exceed 3,000 meters, increasing the risk of AMS among unacclimatised trekkers.
- High-altitude sickness occurs when individuals ascend rapidly to elevations above 2,400 meters, without adequate acclimatisation.
- As altitude rises, both air pressure and oxygen levels drop, causing hypoxia, which is a shortage of oxygen in the body's tissues.
- Symptoms include headaches, nausea, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
- Severe cases of HAS/AMS can lead to High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), both life-threatening conditions requiring immediate descent.
- At high altitudes, the body adapts by increasing breathing (can cause hyperventilation) and producing more red blood cells, thickening the blood and straining the heart.
- HAPE causes lung fluid buildup, and worsening breathing, while HACE leads to confusion, hallucinations, and coma.
- Treatment Strategies:
- Supplemental oxygen or a portable hyperbaric chamber can help alleviate symptoms of AMS and HACE in emergencies.
- Pharmacological treatments, such as acetazolamide and dexamethasone, may provide short-term relief.
