How to Prevent Altitude Sickness

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How to Prevent Altitude Sickness

Today I am talking about something you would eagerly want to know –preventing/avoiding altitude sickness. Here are some points which help you to avoid altitude sickness. 

1. Your itinerary 

As you know that altitude sickness occurs due to not accalaimatizing well enough at the hight altitudes. So the easy way of prevention is give enough time to acclimatize. Start your trek slowly as a tortoise and your itinerary is made such that you get enough amount of time required. (also differs for every individual - this is just generalisation). Ideally, you should increase your sleeping altitude just by 1,000 ft every day. The difference in altitude between camps is high, usually between two and three thousand feet. This is because there is either no place to camp in between or there are no water sources etc.this makes you more susceptinle to altitude sickness. 

2. A preventive course of Diamox 

There are certain medicine that help you acclimatize faster. Most of the trekkers and mountaineers all over the world use a medicine called Diamox to acclimatize faster. This medicine helps you to acclimatize faster by increasing your breathing rate. So for most of the trekkers who gains altitude so quickly , using Diamox really helps especially 13000-14000 ft. even for those who suddenly fly up or drive we recommend you to use Diamox. Dosage: Start with 125 mg which is half of the tablet and increase it to 250 mg which is full which helps nearly 12 hrs. till to the base camp. Do not stop the course in between . Side effects: As you might also know there are many side effects of taking a Diamox . you feel a tingling sensation in your hands and feet. You pee more often .Also keep in mind that Diamox is a sulfa –based drug .if you get some allergies I suggest you to avoid it. As an alternative method you cann keep a strip of Dexamethasone tablet with you which helps to reduce inflammation in the body . It helps to speed up the Add to dictionary .take a doze of 4 mg every six hours. Avoid taking Dex as per the preventive medicine though. 

3. Working on your fitness

It’s very important to be fit in trekking .you have to prepare your body in such a way where your body can function well in less oxygen place as well. You can do this by simply increasing your cardiovascular endurance. Cardiovascular endurance is basically the ability of your lungs, heart and blood vessels to deliver oxygen to your body. Always keep in mind that starts slow as a tortoise. How much fit you are keep your ego aside and climb slow. Drink a lots of water .keep your body hydrate and have more diet it helps you to prevent from altitude sickness. Hydration helps your function smoothly. You need at least 4 liters of water every day on a high altitude trek.

4. Diet 

Diet also play a important role at high altitude sickness but do not eat too much also. We don’t recommend a diet that very high on protein on a high altitude and please remember to avoid meat trek. Keep your head, hand and feet warm. Wear woolen gloves, socks and cap on high altitude. Please say a big "No" to Alcohol on high altitude. Avoid smoking as well because drinking and smoking cause dehydration. For more information please contact info@accenthimalaya.com