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Altitude Sickness Online Consultation

Altitude sickness is when your body doesn’t have time to adjust to lower oxygen availability higher up in the atmosphere.

You can get altitude sickness if you're in a place that is at a high altitude (usually more than 2,500 metres above sea level). Also, you're more likely to get it if you travel or climb to a high altitude quickly.

Symptoms of Altitude Sickness

Usually start 6 to 10 hours after being at a high altitude. Altitude sickness is usually preventable and treatable.

It is important to recognise the symptoms early in order to manage them effectively.

Symptoms of altitude sickness include:

• Headache

• Loss of appetite

• Feeling or being sick

• Feeling tired or exhausted

• Dizziness

• Difficulty sleeping

In some cases, symptoms can be more severe and life threatening, and that necessitates altitude sickness treatment all the more.

Minimising the Risk of Altitude Sickness

  • Travel or climb to a high altitude slowly to give your body time to get used to lower oxygen levels.
  • Spend a few days at an altitude below 2,500 metres before going any higher.
  • Have a rest day at the same altitude every 3 to 4 days (if you're at an altitude of 3,000 metres or more).
  • Drink enough water so you do not get dehydrated.

High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE)

This condition can develop as a result of fluid accumulation in the brain, which can be a complication of altitude sickness. Symptoms can include difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, cough and extreme fatigue.

High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACE)

This condition can develop as a result of fluid accumulation on the lungs, which can be a complication of altitude sickness. Symptoms can include loss of coordination, lethargy and behavioural shifts.

If you develop HACE or HAPE, you must descend immediately, even during the night, and by at least 500-1,000 metres. Any delay can be fatal. These conditions can be addressed with oxygen and steroid treatments, but there are no guarantees, and descending right away is critical.

At Be Online Pharmacy we offer the right consultation for altitude sickness - that can help alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness. 

Acetazolamide is successfully used to prevent or alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness as off-label. This means despite evidence in helping with altitude sickness the indication is not included in the licence of the product.

Tests and Diagnosis for Altitude Sickness Treatment

People generally face altitude sickness at remote locations where they often do not have access to medical equipment. By the time you descend to a lower altitude, the symptoms may subside or go away entirely. However, you still need thorough medical testing. So, here are a few tests to treat altitude sickness.

MRI Scans

MRI or Magnetic resonance Imaging is used to look for signs of swelling in your brain.

The scans can be particularly helpful in detecting long-lasting changes in your brain left behind by altitude sickness you had in the past.

EKG Test

No consultation for altitude sickness is complete without an Electrocardiogram.

Why? Well, that’s because most symptoms of altitude sickness are quite like heart attack, and that’s why an EKG is needed to rule out a heart attack.

X-Ray

This is used to check one’s lungs for signs of HAPE, a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs. 

Altitude sickness treatment and management

It is worth mentioning that there are several ways in which altitude sickness can be treated when it is not as severe, but it is more helpful, if you first descend to a lower altitude. Here are a few ways in which the treatment for it is carried out.

  • Stop and acclimate yourself: When facing altitude sickness, the first thing to do is to stop and rest. 
  • Descend right away: If the symptoms are more severe such as nausea, fatigue, and extreme dizziness, you must start descending to a lower altitude. In fact, you should descend until you start feeling a little better - which can be anything between 300 and 1,000 metres.
  • Supplemental oxygen: Breathing higher concentrations of oxygen can at times offset the symptoms of altitude sickness.
  • Medications: Certain medications such as Acetazolamide are great at altitude sickness treatment, and are used to delay more severe symptoms/ complications.

FAQs

How long does altitude sickness last?

Well, mild forms of altitude sickness may last just for a few days, and disappear when the body gets used to the high altitude. However, if your condition is severe, such as conditions as HAPE and HACE, it can prove deadly in just 24 hours. That’s why you must keep it from worsening.

 

What should I expect if I have altitude sickness?

For most people, altitude sickness doesn’t go beyond acute mountain sickness - a mild form. A headache is usually what most people complain about. So, if you experience a headache, we’d recommend descending right away. You should later go for a consultation for altitude sickness.

 

When should I consult my healthcare provider/ doctor?

Planning to travel to a high altitude destination? Well, it’s better to talk to a healthcare provider before doing so. At Be Online Pharmacy , our experts/ healthcare practitioners can advise you on preventive measures or even prescribe medications that can prevent altitude sickness.