SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT WHILE HIKING

A lot of mountain climbers suffer from altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is a pathological condition caused by oxygen deficiency at high altitudes. Symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, and nosebleed. This ailment can be medically handled.

 TIP:

Altitude sickness can manifest within a day, and its signs get worse at night. It could be mistaken for dehydration or malady.

SYMPTOMS

Generally, known signs of altitude sickness are

• resonate headaches

• Lack of appetite

• vomiting

• tiredness

• Difficulty in sleeping

• Dizzy spells

• Shortness of breath

There are also acute symptoms like bewilderment, difficulty breathing and weakness, darkening of the fingernails and lips. See a doctor if the symptoms become more persistent and hastily climb down.

TREATMENTS

Assuming you can’t reach a doctor, there are simple remedies you can perform.

you climb down the mountain

Climbing down to a lower altitude could reduce any signs you might have noticed, and it is the easiest and fastest remedy.

adapt to the elevation

But if the signs aren’t severe or you can’t get to a lower altitude, all you need to do is to remain at your position and try to adapt to your current position. Take enough fluid and allow your body to adapt to the height. It is imperative to move to a higher altitude by relaxing now and then before climbing. Allow your body to get used to any new height by relaxing a bit while climbing.

BACK-ROADS PRO TIP

It is essential to further go up before climbing back down to where you would be retiring for the night. This would aid your body in adapting to the height, and it would also help to prevent signs of altitude sickness.

Ensure you see a physician to prescribe drugs for you before embarking on mountain climbing or hiking.

There are a lot of medicines used to help combat this ailment. Drugs like Procardia and Diamox are very effective for altitude sickness. Your physician can also prescribe other drugs that would help eradicate any symptoms you might experience.

Endeavor to take enough fluid and feed properly.

Excessive intake of fluids and food rich in carbohydrates can relieve signs of altitude sickness.

Do not smoke or take any alcoholic drink.

One of the symptoms of altitude sickness is shortness of breath; hence, you should not smoke while alcohol devitalizes the fluid in your system.

It is essential for you to be fully aware of altitude sickness, know its symptoms and drugs before embarking on any mountain climbing.