3/18/2023 0 Comments Altitude sickness medicationKeys to preventing acute mountain sickness include: These devices are very helpful if bad weather or other factors make climbing down the mountain impossible. Portable hyperbaric chambers allow hikers to simulate conditions at lower altitudes without actually moving from their location on the mountain. Medicine to increase blood flow to the lungs called phosphodiesterase inhibitor (such as sildenafil)ĭexamethasone (Decadron) may help reduce acute mountain sickness symptoms and swelling in the brain (cerebral edema).Beta agonist inhalers to open the airways.A high blood pressure medicine called nifedipine. If you have fluid in your lungs (pulmonary edema), treatment may include: This medicine works best when taken before reaching a high altitude. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol when taking this drug. This medicine can make you urinate more often. People with severe mountain sickness may need to be admitted to a hospital.Ī medicine called acetazolamide (Diamox) may be given to help you breathe better. You should not continue climbing if you develop symptoms.Įxtra oxygen should be given, if available. The main treatment for all forms of mountain sickness is to climb down (descend) to a lower altitude as rapidly and safely as possible. Acute mountain sickness is easier to treat in the early stages. This may cause cough, chest discomfort, pink frothy sputum and heart failure.Early diagnosis is important. This is called high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). In some cases, the low oxygen causes the lungs to become leaky and accumulate fluid. HACE occurs when brain swelling becomes severe manifesting as severe headache, confusion, lethargy, lack of coordination, irritability, vomiting, seizures, coma and eventually death if untreated. The swelling puts pressure on the brain, squeezing it against the skull.Īltitude sickness may rarely advance to a more severe form of the illness called high altitude cerebral edema (HACE). The dilated blood vessels in the brain may cause headaches and swelling of the brain. The symptoms happen due to low oxygen ( hypoxia) in the air and blood causing the blood vessels of the brain to swell (dilate). This does not give time to the body to adjust to the low air pressure and low oxygen at high altitudes.
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