MOUNTAIN SICKNESS, ACUTE

Mountain sickness, acute can affect skiers, hikers, and explorers who climb high altitudes. Altitude sickness is another term for this illness. It normally occurs at an elevation of 8,000 feet above sea level.

This illness causes dizziness, headaches, nausea, and shortness of breath, to name a few symptoms. The majority of mountain sickness, acute, are mild and go away quickly. It can be severe in rare circumstances, resulting in lung or brain issues.

SYMPTOMS

Acute mountain sickness signs usually occur within hours of ascending to higher elevations. They differ according to the degree of your illness.

Mild

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Insomnia
  • Muscle pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Inflammation of the face, feet, and hands
  • Irritability
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Rapid heartbeat

Severe

  • Chest congestion
  • Social withdrawal
  • Lack of balance
  • Problem walking
  • Coughing
  • Skin discoloration or pale complexion

If you’re having any serious complications, call your health care provider or get urgent medical help as soon as possible. It will be much simpler to fix the problem if you treat it before it becomes worse.

DIAGNOSIS

You’ll be asked to explain your complaints, hobbies, and recent vacations to your physician. He or she will most likely utilize a stethoscope to check for fluid in your lungs during the examination. A chest X-ray may be ordered by your healthcare provider to determine the severity of the problem.

TREATMENT

Mountain sickness, acute, is managed in various ways based on how serious it is. Shifting to a lower elevation may assist you in avoiding problems. You will have to be taken to the hospital if your health care provider suspects that you have a brain injury or fluid in your lungs. You might be given oxygen if you’re having problems breathing.

Medications

Other treatments

Some simple interventions may be used for mountain sickness acute, such as:

  • Minimizing your activity level
  • Switching to a lower altitude
  • Hydrating with water
  • Resting after traveling to high altitude

You can lower your risk of getting mountain sickness, acute by taking certain important precautions. Make an appointment for a checkup to ensure you have no severe health issues. Understand the condition’s signs so you can recognize it and treat it quickly if it develops.

Related Articles

TETRALOGY OF FALLOT

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect that affects the [...]

TRICHINOSIS

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Trichinosis, also known as trichinellosis, is a parasitic infection caused by [...]

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Trigeminal neuralgia is a neurological condition characterized by severe facial pain. [...]