Perspectives and Advice on Altitude and Altitude Sickness

Altitude
• Climb high, sleep low
• Over 10k feet, 1-2k up per day, after 3k spend extra night
• Rest days, short hikes to higher altitudes

Generally, people start feeling the effects of altitude above 10,000 feet;

AMS — Altitude (Acute) Mountain Sickness
• headache, loss of appetite, tired, vomit, dizziness, sleep issues
• Descend, Diamox

HACE — High Altitude Cerebral Edema
• AMS first, severe headache, confusion, stumbling, behavior change, coma
• Descend, chamber, oxygen

HAPE — High Altitude Pulmonary Edema
• AMS first, easy tiring, dry cough, difficult breathing, lung crackles, death
• Descend, chamber, oxygen

Beside your normal 1st aid kit:
• Diamox (Acetazolamid) 125mg/day before ascent, 250mg/day upon start of illness
• Check with your doctor
• Gamow Bag or Hyperbaric Chamber
• Stethoscope
• Nice to haves — codeine, Cipro, antihistamines, cough drops

By Donovan | Permalink | No Comments | December 10th, 2005 | Trackback

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• Symptoms of High Altitude Sickness

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