Facts About Altitude Illness
May 26, 2009 by Peggy Rowland
Filed under Women's Health
Altitude illness is brought on by traveling to a higher altitude faster than the body is able to adapt. Symptoms of this somewhat unpredictable illness are caused by fluid leakage from blood vessels. Unfortunately, there’s no test to see if you’ll experience altitude sickness.
In severe cases, immediate descent to a lower altitude may be mandatory to avoid death, which can occur within 6-24 hours after developing ataxia (lack of muscle coordination). It’s also not advisable to sleep in a high altitude area when experiencing even minor altitude sickness.
Some interesting facts related to altitude sickness:
• At very high altitudes, people who have undergone incisional radial keratotomy can develop acute farsightedness.
• Some glucose meters don’t read accurately at high altitudes.
• Studies revealed that travelers on organized group treks are more likely to die of altitude illness than people who are by themselves. This might be a result of group pressure and a fixed itinerary.
For more information about altitude sickness and common symptoms, visit the CDC’s Yellow Book or WebMD’s altitude sickness overview.
Have you experienced altitude sickness?
(Source: CDC; Image credit: stock.xchng)
