Altitutde Sickness

Question 1

What are some of the severe symptoms of acute mountain sickness

Answer 1

High altitude cereberal edema and high altitude pulmonary edema
Usually when 4000m

Question 2

What are some of the symptoms of acute mountain sickness

Answer 2

Nausea , fatigue on and off headaches
Gradually occurs over 6-12 hours and when 2,500-3,000m above the ground

Question 3

What are the altitude related disorders ?

Answer 3

Acute mountain sickness

Question 4

How can we prevent acute mountain sickness for mountain climbers

Answer 4

Gradual altitude incline of no more than 500m per day as-well as azetozolamide

Question 5

How does acetazolamide help with AMS?

Answer 5

Inducing primary metabolic acidosis -(preventing the kidneys to get rid of the acid or get rid off too much biocarbonate)
Therefore bringing compensatory respiratory alkalosis - hyperventilation - kausmaul breathing deep slow breathing that increases tidal volume

Question 6

Treatment for HACE AND HAPE?

Answer 6

Dexamethasone and descent for HACE

HAPE
Nifedipine - lowers pulmonary artery pressure and reduced pulmonary edema
Sildenafil (phosphodiesterase type 4)
Oxygen if available
Descent

Both of them cannot be used to PREVENT. Only to when severe AMS is established

Question 7

How do we treat headaches in acute mountain sickness

Answer 7

Cereberal vasodilation is believed to play a role in AMS just like migraine which is a form of vascular headache - giving sumitriptan which is a selective cerebral vasoconstrictor can help - and has been proposed for PREVENTION - however still controversial

Question 8

What is the main treatment of AMS ?

Answer 8

Descent !!!