2023-06-26 06:01:55
In the Netherlands we have nothing to do with great heights. That is different if you go to a holiday destination with mountains. In a mountainous environment you can suffer from altitude sickness. We tell you from what height it occurs, what to do about it and how you can prevent it.
When does altitude sickness occur?
Not everyone gets altitude sickness, also known as mountain sickness. Why is not known. When you ascend to a high altitude quickly, you may experience headaches, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. This can already occur at an altitude of 2,500 meters. This can happen both when you quickly go to a point high in the mountains or after landing, at a flight destination that is at a high altitude. That has to do with how much oxygen there is in the air. The higher you go, the less oxygen there is and the more the risk of symptoms increases. This is because the amount of oxygen in the blood decreases. At an altitude of 2.5 kilometers there is 25 percent less oxygen in the air than at sea level. And on Mount Everest (8,800m) there is no less than 66 percent less oxygen in the air.
At an altitude of 3,000 meters, about 1 in 4 people get altitude sickness. Above 5,000 meters almost everyone gets complaints. It often takes about 8 hours for the symptoms to start.
What should you do in case of altitude sickness?
If altitude sickness has struck, in addition to the symptoms described above, you can also sleep poorly, feel dizzy or feel less like eating. These symptoms are warnings that you should not ignore. Staying at the same height for a while will allow your body to get used to it. Usually the complaints will go away on their own. If you immediately go higher, it can be dangerous for your health. You then get serious complaints such as problems with walking, difficulty with talking, confusion, problems with breathing or even unconsciousness. You must then immediately descend to an altitude at which you have previously experienced no complaints and visit a doctor as soon as possible. In severe cases, you can even die from it.
Read also: Driving in the mountains, keep this in mind
Are there medicines for altitude sickness?
To combat the symptoms, you can use medicines. Paracetamol for headache or an anti-nausea medicine. It can also help to take supplemental oxygen. In certain cases, a doctor may also prescribe acetazolamide. Acetazolamide has an effect on the amount of water and salts in the body. This reduces the symptoms of altitude sickness.
How can altitude sickness be prevented?
You can prevent altitude sickness by bridging the altitude difference at a leisurely pace. Do not ascend too much per day and plan sufficient rest days in between. Above 2,500 meters, ascend a maximum of 300 to 600 meters per day and stay at the same altitude every other day. In addition, make sure you drink enough. Thuisarts.nl advises to keep 3 liters per day. Avoid alcohol, drugs and sleeping pills and avoid strenuous exercise during the first days. Discuss with your doctor whether it is an option in your case to use the drug acetazolamide preventively. In some people, this medicine helps against altitude sickness.
In an earlier article we give even more tips to prepare for the mountains and on the website of MAX vacation man you will find tips for hiking in the mountains.
(Source: Thuisarts.nl, Radboudumc, GGD Travel Vaccinations, Health Square, Pharmacy.nl. Photo: Shutterstock)
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