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Altitude sickness, altitude anoxia
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Mountain
sickness occurs at heights above 8000 feet (2400 meters)
when a climber attempts to ascend too rapidly, risking
damage to the body's nervous system (brain), cardiovascular
system (heart), respiratory system (lungs), as well as other
structures, such as muscle and blood cells.
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- Decreased oxygen pressure
- Decreased atmospheric
pressure
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- Dry cough
- Dizziness and headache worse on lying down or changing position
- Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
- Loss of appetite
- Facial swelling
- Shortness of breath
- Confusion and Coma
- Vision abnormalities
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- The symptoms need to be recognized and evaluated immediately.
- There may be crackles when the physician listens to the lungs using a
stethoscope.
- There is rapid pulse rate (faster than 100 beats per minute).
- A chest radiograph (X-Ray) will show fluids in the lungs.
- Swelling around the brain may show up on a head CAT scan.
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- Higher the climb, greater the risk of complications
- Seen in climbers, skiers, hikers, and high altitude plane crash survivors
- Risk increases if there is a history of blood disorders (i.e., anemia), heart
or lung disease
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- Provide oxygen immediately
- Take the patient to lower altitude as fast as and safe as possible.
- Sitting the person up helps the breathing
- Diuretics help breathing by forcing the patient to urinate extra fluids
- If the breathing rate is too slow and Coma is present, mechanical
ventilation (respirator) maybe necessary.
- Diamox and similar medications can be taken before a climb to reduce the
risk of mountain
sickness.
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- Before a climb, make sure you are well versed in the
techniques and
dangers involved with high altitude
climbing.
- Be in excellent shape and climb with experts if you are
inexperienced.
- If you have heart, lung, or other medical conditions
consult your physician
beforehand.
- Once climbing, ascend gradually -- at 8000 feet (2400
meters) stop
1-2 days for each additional 2000 feet
(600meters) -- so that your body will have time to
adjust. Bottled oxygen must be available for hiking
above 8000-9000 feet.
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- Heart Failure due to other conditions
- Lung disease
- Blood disorders such as anemia
- Stroke or hemorrhage in the brain may produce Coma or confusion
- Drug overdose
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