MClimbing mountains generally feels fun and exciting, because of the beautiful scenery and the adrenaline rush. However, behind this activity, you need to be aware of altitude sickness.
altitude sickness or altitude sickness (acute mountain sickness) quite often attacks climbers who are at an altitude of more than 2000 meters above sea level.
This condition can be caused by many factors, ranging from a decrease in air pressure and the amount of oxygen, to dry air and cold temperatures in the highlands.
At high altitudes, such as at the top of a mountain or hill, the depleted amount of oxygen in the air can make the climbers breathe faster. This is the body's natural response to supply oxygen.
However, when the amount of oxygen in the body of climbers is reduced due to altitude sickness, they can experience several symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, no appetite, shortness of breath, nausea, weakness and fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.
In more severe cases, climbers may experience confusion, hallucinations, difficulty moving, hearing loss, severe headache, chest pain, chest palpitations, loss of consciousness, and fainting.
Symptoms usually appear about 12–24 hours after reaching altitude and improve in about 2–3 days when the body has adjusted to the change in altitude.
How to Overcome Altitude Disease
If you experience or find someone with altitude sickness, take the following steps to help:
1. Get some rest
People who feel symptoms of altitude sickness should immediately stop climbing and rest. Do not hike again for at least 24-48 hours or until the symptoms of altitude sickness have completely disappeared.
If still not improving after 24 hours, climbers with altitude sickness are advised to descend at least 500 meters or 1,000 feet guided by someone else.
2. Give oxygen therapy
Giving pure oxygen or supplemental oxygen can help with breathing problems due to altitude sickness. At least, breathing will improve for a while.
However, the effect of oxygen therapy is actually less effective when compared to descending to a lower altitude. People with altitude sickness with severe or severe symptoms should descend mountains at least lower than 4,000 feet, even while on oxygen therapy.
3. Use drugs
Painkillers, such as paracetamol, can be used to treat pain complaints, such as headaches or ear pain, that are felt due to altitude sickness.
If you experience nausea or vomiting, climbers can get antiemetic drugs such as promethazine. If you have difficulty breathing or have a history of asthma, it is recommended to inhale a bronchodilator drug through inhaler or taking corticosteroid medications.
To overcome and prevent altitude sickness, you are also recommended to drink enough water, not to consume alcoholic beverages, not to exercise, not to smoke, not to use sleeping pills, and to follow any safety instructions during the climbing process.
In addition, gradually climbing altitude and walking slowly can also help prevent altitude sickness.
Be sure to always tell any condition that you feel to your friends or the guide who goes up the mountain with you, be it mild or severe symptoms. This will help you and them become more aware of the emergence of altitude sickness symptoms.
If you still have questions about how to prevent altitude, please consult your doctor.
