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1. ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS (AMS)
FROM IGNORANCE TO AWARENESS

2. What is Acute Mountain Sickness ?
 Acute Mountain Sickness is the term used for the most
common illness associated to travel and altitude.
 Acute Mountain Sickness is common at high altitudes,
above 8000 feet. Nearly 75% of the population show
mid symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness at the level
of 10000 feet.
 People who escalate to higher altitude experience the
effect of Acute Mountain Sickness.

3. Symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness
 Person suffering from Acute Mountain Sickness will
experience following effects of this disease :-
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Muscle ache
• Swelling in feet and hands
 It would generally take 6 – 48 hours for the symptoms
to begin after exposing at high altitude.

4. Types of Acute Mountain Sickness
Acute Mountain
Sickness
Mild Acute
Mountain Sickness
Severe Acute
Mountain Sickness

5. Mild Acute Mountain Sickness
 A person may be suffering from Mild Acute Mountain
Sickness, if they experience:-
• Headache
• Muscle ache
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Swelling of hands, feet and face
• Shortness of breath
 It is very common to experience this disease at high
altitude. The symptoms generally show up in 8 – 10 hours.

6. Severe Acute Mountain Sickness
 In this case, the sickness may cause more intense symptoms and affect the
heart, lungs, muscles and nervous systems and can be traced by :-
• Coughing
• Chest Congestion
• Pale complexion and skin discoloration
• Inability to walk or lack of balance
 If symptoms worsen avoid further ascent, consider the possibility of altitude
related illnesses and descend as necessary. Hiding illness or ignoring symptoms
could be fatal.

7. Treatment of Acute Mountain Sickness
• The best treatment for AMS is to move back to lower
altitude.
• If you feel ill at altitude, don’t move to higher altitude.
• Reduction of your activity.
• Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol as dehydration is
devote factor of altitude sickness.
• The best cure is to accommodate properly and move back
to lower altitude.

8. Medicines for Acute Mountain Sickness
There are several medicine in the market for
AMS. They make your body breath faster than
usual rate, so try to indemnify for the lower
amount of oxygen.
However these medicine are not a cure but just
the precautionary measure.
The most common medicine for AMS are
Acetazolamide and Dexamethasone.

9. Acetazolamide and Dexamethasone
 Trade named as Diamox, this is the most common medicine
used. This is used for both prevention and cure of AMS. It is
the most effective way to prevent AMS symptoms. It comes
in form of 125mg tablet. Many people are allergic to
Diamox. It causes tingling of hands and face. But the
medicine is very well tolerable and nice option for travelers
in preventing AMS.
 Dexamethasone, a steroid used as safeguard those who are
unable to tolerate Diamox.
PLEASE CONSULT A DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING MEDICINE.

10. Dealing with Altitude Sickness
If you feel the symptoms of altitude sickness, stop climbing to higher altitude.
Once you feel the symptoms of AMS, give your body enough time to rest
and adapt the surrounding and for the symptoms to vanish
If you think your symptoms are not getting better, it is advised to return to
lower level altitude
Stop ascending
Proper rest
Descend straight away
Visit a doctor
If you think you symptoms are worse, visit your doctor immediately
You can also visit Leh Memorial Hospital and
Sonam Norboo Memorial Hospital in Leh.

11. HAPO (High-Altitude Pulmonary Oedema)
 HAPO or High-Altitude Pulmonary Oedema, a
condition caused by dangerous excessive fluids
collecting in lungs. The numerous air sacs get filled
with this fluid, making it difficult to breathe. If
ignored, HAPO (High-Altitude Pulmonary Oedema)
can be very fatal and life threatning.
 At higher altitudes, the lack of oxygen cause blood
vessel to constrict all over the place. The blood in
these vessel is squeezed out and the force push the
fluid out of blood into air pockets.

12. Symptoms of HAPO (High-Altitude Pulmonary Oedema)
 Just like Acute Mountain Sickness, the person may have
cough along with frothy sputum, this may be followed
by breathlessness and increase in heartbeat, lips
turning blue and rise in body temperature.
 It is generally suggested that the person with chest
infection and common cold are more likely to develop
HAPO at higher altitude.

13. Treatment of HAPO
Supplemental oxygen and medication can be
included in treating HAPO.
 Trained doctor’s guidance must be taken while
taking medicines. To open blood vessel in the
lungs, Nifedipine can be taken, as it reduces the
high pressure in the vessel forcing the fluid out of
the lungs. It should be clear that the drug
treatment is temporary precautionary measure, it
is advised to return back to lower altitude.

14. What should be done ?
• Don’t leave the person on their own.
• Return to lower level, if not possible use Portable
Hyperbaric Chambers and descend when possible.
• Keep yourself warm and sit upright.
• Always carry oxygen cylinder or pressure bag.
 Most of the expert advise once you reach 8200 feet,
ascend not more than 1000 to 1200 feet a day.

15. HACE (High-Altitude Cerebral Edema)
A medical condition where the mind swells
with fluid due to physiological effect of
traveling at higher altitudes. The person
affected with HAPO are likely to get HACE and
vice verse.
The person will experience reduce
consciousness, inability to feel, see, hear and
smell odd things

16. Symptoms of HACE
• Severe headache
• Clumsiness
• Blurred vision
• Unable to see, hear, feel and smell
• Confusion
• Reduction in consciousness
The person will experience these types of
symptoms while suffering HACE (High-Altitude
Cerebral Edema).

17. Treatment of HACE
• Most effective way to tackle is to move back at
lower altitude.
• A temporary measure of portable altitude
chamber can also be used.
• Portable oxygen cylinder can also be used.
• Dexamethasone can be given to the person
suffering from HACE.

18. Your awareness can save a life