Altitude sickness Flashcards
What is altitude sickness?
When gaining altitude too rapidly (>2500m above sea level) the body can take a while to adjust to reduced oxygen and changes in pressure, causing nausea and vomiting.
Who is at risk of getting altitude sickness?
People going to high altitudes, usually by climbing. Some areas include Mt Everest (Nepal), Mt Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), La Paz (Bolivia), some places in the Alps.
Nowhere in the UK.
Altitude sickness lifestyle advice.
Rest at the same altitude till you feel better.
Travel slowly to prevent sickness from happening.
Drink lots of water.
>3000m, try not to climb more than 500m in a day.
If you become confused, unbalanced, hallucinate, SOB, lose consciousness etc. reach a lower altitude immediately and seek medical help.
Altitude sickness OTC products.
Paracetamol or Ibuprofen
