Is mountain climbing the "most popular sport" after the lockdown is lifted? Novice mountain climbers must know about the "three major mountain sicknesses": delaying medical treatment may kill you within 24 hours
As the epidemic gradually eases, the number of sports people has gradually increased, and mountaineering in particular has become a popular choice. However, as the altitude increases during mountain climbing, the environmental conditions also change, including low air pressure, low temperature, low humidity, high ultraviolet rays, etc. In particular, low air pressure may reduce the oxygen content in the air, causing mountain symptoms. Mild symptoms include headache, dizziness, weakness and nausea. Severe symptoms may lead to life-threatening cerebral edema and pulmonary edema, which must not be taken lightly.
Is mountain climbing the “most popular sport” after the lockdown is lifted? Beginner mountaineers must know the “three major altitude sickness”
Taiwan Food and Drug Administration and pharmacist Lin Siwen of the Taipei City Hospital Yangming Branch said that people should remember the principles of medication before hiking and first consult the “Travel Medicine Clinic” before setting off. Risk factors that cause altitude sickness include: altitude, climbing speed, personal physique, etc., which are not necessarily related to daily physical strength and exercise habits.
Altitude sickness is likely to occur in high altitude areas above 2,500 meters above sea level, and is divided into three categories: “acute mountain sickness”, “high mountain cerebral edema” and “high mountain pulmonary edema”:
Acute mountain sickness: It is the most common of the three types of mountain sickness. It usually appears within 6-12 hours after arriving at the highland. It is easy to cause headache, dizziness, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, weakness and other non-specific symptoms due to hypoxia. Symptoms will ease after 2-3 days as the body adapts to the environment. Headache symptoms usually appear first (a few patients have no headache symptoms). Vomiting is an important indicator of worsening symptoms, so travelers should pay more attention.
High-altitude cerebral edema: A small number of travelers who develop acute mountain sickness will worsen to high-altitude cerebral edema. Symptoms include severe headache, drowsiness, confusion, ataxia (unsteady gait) and even coma. Unsteady gait is an important indicator of high-altitude cerebral edema. If symptoms of gait instability occur and are not properly treated or the altitude is lowered, death may occur within 24 hours.
High-altitude pulmonary edema: Hypoxia will cause pulmonary artery pressure to increase and pulmonary vascular permeability to increase, causing water in the blood to leak into the lungs. Symptoms of high-altitude pulmonary edema include deterioration in exercise ability, continued panting, dry cough, and chest tightness at rest. As the disease worsens, dyspnea, bloody cough, and cyanosis may occur. Patients with high-altitude pulmonary edema may also suffer from other high-altitude pulmonary edema. Altitude sickness.
The fatality rate of high-altitude pulmonary edema is higher than the other two types of mountain sickness. If the symptoms of panting and dyspnea cannot be relieved by rest, you must consider whether high-altitude pulmonary edema has occurred. Giving oxygen can relieve the symptoms, but at the same time, you must go down the mountain immediately. Reduce altitude.
Should you consult a travel clinic before climbing high-altitude mountains? Experts reveal 3 things you must do before climbing a mountain
Pharmacist Lin Siwen said that for those who have a history of altitude sickness or who need to climb altitude quickly in a short period of time, it is recommended to consult a tourism medicine clinic before departure, and the doctor will evaluate whether they need to take medication to prevent altitude sickness.
Furthermore, attention needs to be paid to the timing of preventive medication. Pharmacist Lin Siwen pointed out that common drugs for preventing altitude sickness include acetazolamide, nifedipine, tadalafil, sildenafil and dexamethasone. Among them, acetazolamide can help the body adapt to the high-altitude environment more quickly and is the first choice for preventing acute mountain sickness. It is recommended to start using acetazolamide at about 125 mg the day before or on the day of climbing, twice a day, until the second or third day when you are no longer ascending altitude, or when you start descending altitude.
The last principle is to take the initiative to tell the doctor your medical history. Acetazolamide is not recommended for patients who are allergic to sulfa drugs, have favismia, or are pregnant. Steroids such as dexamethasone can be used as alternative drugs. It is recommended to start taking them on the day of ascent. The method is to take 2mg of dexamethasone every 6 hours or 4mg of dexamethasone every 12 hours until the 2nd or 3rd day when there is no more ascent, or until the descent begins. Only stop using it; do not stop the medication arbitrarily while it continues to rise.
Is it a misconception to eat Viagra before climbing? Taiwan Food and Drug Administration: May aggravate altitude sickness symptoms
Pharmacist Lin Siwen said that when consulting the travel clinic, remember to proactively inform the doctor of relevant medical history and allergies. In addition, there is a popular saying that “you should take Viagra to prevent altitude sickness.” In fact, sildenafil can only prevent altitude pulmonary edema with a probability of less than 1%, and misuse may aggravate the risk of acute mountain sickness. Headache symptoms.
The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration reminds that whether you are a mountaineering enthusiast or planning to engage in high-altitude activities, you should fully understand the risks and prevention methods of altitude sickness before climbing, follow the instructions of your doctor, and take appropriate pharmaceutical precautions when necessary to ensure that you are safe during mountaineering. The journey will not come with joy and return with disillusionment.
Source:
Altitude Sickness - Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Centers for Disease Control
Drug and Food Safety Weekly Report Issue 941 - Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration
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