The Travellers Lounge: Altitude Sickness

<body> <p><font size="2" face="Arial">The Travellers Lounge > Altitude Sickness (AMS)</font></p> <p align="justify"><b><a name=#"top"><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="4">What is Altitude Sickness</font></a></b></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">Altitude sickness is a highly unpleasant experience and occurs when you reach about 2500 metres. It occurs because the air is thinner with less oxygen available to you.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">Your body will adjust to this by increasing your breathing rate and also your heart starts to work harder. Most people can acclimatise efficiently at heights of 2000-3000 metres within a couple of days but if you are planning on going higher you should allow up to 3 weeks.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">You are more likely to get altitude sickness the faster you elevate. For example if you fly direct into La Paz, Bolivia (3000m) or drive up to Lhasa, Tibet (3600m) you are more likely to experience symptoms than if you were to trek to altitude. Overexerting yourself before you have become accustomed to the height will also increase your risk.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">Symptoms include:</font></p> <ul> <li> <p align="justify"><b><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">headache</font></b></li> <li> <p align="justify"><b><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">nausea and loss of appetite</font></b></li> <li> <p align="justify"><b><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">vomiting</font></b></li> <li> <p align="justify"><b><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">tiredness</font></b></li> <li> <p align="justify"><b><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">irritability</font></b></li> </ul> <p align="justify"><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">More severe symptoms include:</font> <ul> <li> <p align="justify"><font color="#0099CC"><b><font face="Arial" size="2">breathlessness </font> </b><font face="Arial" size="2">(even at rest)</font></font></li> <li> <p align="justify"><b><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">weakness</font></b></li> <li> <p align="justify"><b><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">coughing up a pinky substance</font></b></li> </ul> <p align="justify"><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">Extreme symptoms (when fluid has collected in your brain). These symptoms can be life-threatening so DESCEND IMMEDIATELY:</font></p> <ul> <li> <p align="justify"><b><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">severe headache</font></b></li> <li> <p align="justify"><b><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">confusion and disorientation</font></b></li> <li> <p align="justify"><b><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">drowsiness</font></b></li> <li> <p align="justify"><b><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">double vision</font></b></li> <li> <p align="justify"><b><font face="Arial" color="#0099CC" size="2">unconsciousness </font></b></li> </ul>     <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">  </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">  </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.webtrendslive.com/redirect.asp?siteID=76525"> <IMG BORDER="0" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://statse.webtrendslive.com/S005-01-5-23-248952-76525/button3.asp?tagver=3&SiteId=76525&Sid=001-00-3-10-6692-7351&Tz=0&firstwkday=monday&Edition=enterprise&Button=&title=NO%20SCRIPT&url=http://noscript&javaOK=No&"> </A> </NOSCRIPT>  <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>This page uses frames, but your browser doesn't support them.</p> </body>