Mountain Sickness (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Altitude Sickness Overview
- Altitude Sickness Causes
- Altitude Sickness Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Altitude Sickness Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Multimedia
- Authors and Editors
Altitude Sickness Treatment
Self-Care at Home
- Delay further ascent until symptoms improve.
- Rest and stay warm.
- Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for headache.
- Do not use sleeping pills or other central nervous system depressants to treat insomnia because they can suppress breathing.
- If symptoms continue, do not travel any higher.
- If symptoms worsen, descend approximately 1,000-2,000 feet (300-600 meters) immediately.
- If descent is not possible, a portable hyperbaric chamber (Gamow bag) can be used to simulate a lower altitude.
- The higher the altitude at which a hyperbaric chamber is used, the greater the apparent descent can be simulated. (This is because portable hyperbaric chambers can increase atmospheric pressure by 2 pounds per square inch.)
- For example, a hyperbaric chamber at 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) can simulate a descent of 4,800 feet (1,500 meters), but the same hyperbaric chamber used at 24,600 feet (7,500 meters) can simulate a descent of 7,800 feet (2,400 meters).
- The higher the altitude at which a hyperbaric chamber is used, the greater the apparent descent can be simulated. (This is because portable hyperbaric chambers can increase atmospheric pressure by 2 pounds per square inch.)
Next: Medical Treatment »
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