Altitude sickness, also known as mountain sickness, is a sudden illness which may strike you when you are high up. You may feel dizzy or uneasy, but there’s no need to worry, as you can fight it off. There are many home remedies and treatments for altitude sickness, all of which are 99.99% guaranteed to be safe and effective. These home remedies include ginger, lemon soda, herbal mixtures, acetaminophen, rest and drinking water.
Altitude Sickness: What Is It?
Acute mountain sickness, or altitude sickness, happens when the human body fails to acclimatize to high places. This usually happens if the body fails to adjust its chemical homeostasis or fluid balance. Acclimatization may take anywhere from days to weeks while the body normalizes its metabolic rates according to external stimuli. In rare occasions, failure to adjust can be chronic or life threatening.
According to research, some of the major problems associated with high altitudes are:
- Pulmonary edema
- Brain swelling
What Causes Altitude Sickness?
As a person goes to a higher altitude, oxygen levels gradually drop and make it harder to breathe. Usually, this happens if they are climbing, trekking, or hiking a hill too quickly. When your body is finding it difficult to get the necessary amount of oxygen, you start to breathe faster. This results in the symptoms of altitude sickness, such as insomnia and headache.
Altitude sickness may also be caused or worsened by:
- Alcohol intake
- Hypothermia, or when the body reaches dangerous internal temperature levels
- Low levels of fluid in the body
- Overexertion during ascension
Symptoms of Altitude Sickness
The symptoms of altitude sickness may be experienced within just 12 to 24 hours of arriving at the new altitude. These normally worsen at night, when the body tries to settle into its resting metabolic rate. Some of the symptoms of altitude sickness include:
- Sleeplessness
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Nausea
- Breathing problems due to physical exertion
- Increased heartbeat
Because air is thinner in high altitude places, the higher you climb, the less oxygen there is. This makes it hard to breathe, which is why altitude sickness occurs. To be able to counteract this, you can try to do some deep breathing exercises.
Altitude sickness may have many signs and symptoms. It may cause fatigue, peripheral edema, persistent rapid pulse, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, insomnia and discomfort. It can worsen and become serious if not managed in time, causing skin discoloration, blue nails and lips, headaches at night, paranoia, gradual loss of consciousness, coughing with blood and incessant coughing.
Treatments and Home Remedies for
Here are some of the best treatments and home remedies for getting rid of altitude sickness:
Ginger. Ginger is used in treating various conditions, including altitude sickness. It prevents the condition from reaching dangerous levels.
Lemon soda. This is prevents vomiting.
Herbal potions. These are made from common ingredients readily available at home. They can be used to build stamina and fight the symptoms of altitude sickness.
Avoiding exercise. You must avoid exercising. This is actually more effective than using various medications.
Water. When your breathing gets too quick or deep, it is possible to become dehydrated. To prevent this, it’s important to drink considerable amounts of water. Be vigilant in ensuring you urinate frequently and that it is clear.
Eat digestible foods. You must avoid junk food, oily foods or heavy meals while climbing up to certain heights. Furthermore, it is advisable that you eat small portions. Eating digestible foods may help by not draining too much energy from the body.
. This drug gives instant pain relief on higher elevations.
Combination of drugs. The use of ibuprofen, aspirin or other over-the-counter medication can help treat the condition. However, you must consult your doctor before going out and buying various medications from a drugstore or pharmacy.
Conclusion
To prevent altitude sickness, you must adhere to a proper diet plan and abstain from smoking, caffeine and alcohol. If you do get altitude sickness, remember the home remedies listed above. They can all be effective in treating the condition. Most importantly, if you feel you cannot climbing due to the symptoms you are experiencing, then don’t! Do not put yourself at risk!
