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How to Diagnose and Treat Altitude Sickness

Any time you rapidly increase altitude, whether in a car, on a trail, or while mountain climbing, you run the risk of getting altitude sickness. There are three types of altitude sickness: acute mountain sickness, high altitude pulmonary edema, and high altitude cerebral edema.

Things You'll Need

  • Distilled Water
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Instructions

  1. Diagnosing and Treating Acute Mountain Sickness

    • 1

      Watch for symptoms like headache, loss of appetite, flu-like symptoms of lethargy, nausea, and perhaps vomiting and little urine.

    • 2

      To treat acute mountain sickness, drink at least 5 liters of fluid per day. The more, the better and force yourself to eat.

    • 3

      Do not go to a higher altitude until symptoms disappear and descend if the symptoms do not improve in 24-48 hours or descend immediately if symptoms take a sharp turn for the worse.

    Diagnosing and Treating High Altitude Pulmonary Edema

    • 4

      Symptoms include extreme weakness and fatigue and extreme shortness of breath combined with a racing heart, even after rest. A dry, raspy cough similar to bronchitis, blue lips and fingernails and gurgling sounds in the chest.

    • 5

      Look for a respiration rate greater than 20 per minute after 20 minutes of rest This is considered a threshold, as is a racing heart - greater than 130 beats per minute - after 20 minutes of rest.

    • 6

      Take these sypmtoms seriously, this is a critical situation that can kill.

    • 7

      To treat high altitude pulmonary edema, immediately descend 2,000-4,000 feet preferably while the victim can still travel under his or her own power. There is no substitute for descent.

    • 8

      Keep victims warm as they are vulnerable to hypothermia and use oxygen, if available.

    Diagnosing and Treating High Altitude Cerebral Edema

    • 9

      Watch for symptoms like a loss of balance, stumbling, extreme headache, confusion and irrationality, temporary blindness, hallucinations and coma.

    • 10

      Be extremely careful this situation is critical and can quickly kill.

    • 11

      To treat high altitude cerebral edema, descend 2,000-4,000 feet minimum. The more, the better. There is no substitute for descent.

    • 12

      Radio for help if possible, as this person will need to be treated immediately. Not doing so can lead to coma or death.

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