Treatment of altitude sickness
Self-Care at Home
Rise further delay until symptoms improve.
Rest and keep warm.
Take acetaminophen (Tylenol), and headache.
Do not use sleeping pills or other CNS depressants to treat insomnia because they can suppress breathing.
If symptoms persist, do not go higher.
If symptoms worsen, down from about 1000-2000 feet (300-600 meters).
If the landing is not possible, a portable hyperbaric chamber (Gamow bag) can be simulated at 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 the portable hyperbaric facilities can increase the air pressure of 2 pounds per square inch).
For example, a hyperbaric chamber at 9800 feet (3000 meters), simulating a descent of 4800 feet (1500 meters), but the same hyperbaric chamber used at 24,600 feet (7500 meters) can simulate a descent of 7800 feet (2400 meters).
Medical treatment
Going down to lower altitudes or delay further increases are treatments for acute mountain sickness until the symptoms have disappeared.
Gamow bag can be used if the descent is not possible.
Oxygen (2-4 liters per minute), improved oxygen saturation of blood.
Aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be a headache.
For nausea, the doctor may prescribe prochlorperazine (Stemetil ®), an anti-nausea drug which also increases the body's ability to increase respiration in response to low oxygen environments.
Sleeping pills for insomnia should not be taken. They are potentially dangerous because they can slow breathing.
Acetazolamide (Diamox) may be prescribed to speed acclimatization.
Acetazolamide is a diuretic (a drug that increases urine production) increases the renal excretion of bicarbonate. This lowers the pH of the blood, which stimulates the extra breath, resulting in higher levels of oxygen in the blood.
In addition, acetazolamide corrects night pauses in breathing known as periodic breathing. Acetazolamide also improve symptoms of insomnia.
HAPE best suits the way down.
Oxygen, if available, should be provided.
Nifedipine (Procardia), a drug for high blood pressure, has proven to be beneficial to HAPE.
Antibiotics may be given if there is fever and pneumonia are possible.
For more severe cases of HAPE, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask ventilation can be used. Although uncomfortable to wear, mask CPAP helps by increasing the pressure of the air inhaled.
If this fails, a tube may be placed in the mouth and airways. This, in conjunction with ventilatory support is necessary for the treatment of respiratory failure.
The only definitive treatment is a hare down.
Dexamethasone (Decadron, a steroid) may be beneficial.
In general, if dexamethasone is considered, then a glide path should be in place unless descent is impossible.
Some people, after receiving dexamethasone, can feel a lot better than they want to continue to rise. Under no circumstances should this be allowed.
Oxygen can be helpful.
Gamow bag can be purchased at the time until landing is possible.
Anyone with hare or HAPE should be as comfortable as possible.
Efforts of all types should be minimized, even during the descent.
This means that it may be necessary to organize the landing of the sick person, by whatever means available (helicopters, snowmobiles, or a mule, for example).
Self-Care at Home
Rise further delay until symptoms improve.
Rest and keep warm.
Take acetaminophen (Tylenol), and headache.
Do not use sleeping pills or other CNS depressants to treat insomnia because they can suppress breathing.
If symptoms persist, do not go higher.
If symptoms worsen, down from about 1000-2000 feet (300-600 meters).
If the landing is not possible, a portable hyperbaric chamber (Gamow bag) can be simulated at 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 the portable hyperbaric facilities can increase the air pressure of 2 pounds per square inch).
For example, a hyperbaric chamber at 9800 feet (3000 meters), simulating a descent of 4800 feet (1500 meters), but the same hyperbaric chamber used at 24,600 feet (7500 meters) can simulate a descent of 7800 feet (2400 meters).
Medical treatment
Going down to lower altitudes or delay further increases are treatments for acute mountain sickness until the symptoms have disappeared.
Gamow bag can be used if the descent is not possible.
Oxygen (2-4 liters per minute), improved oxygen saturation of blood.
Aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be a headache.
For nausea, the doctor may prescribe prochlorperazine (Stemetil ®), an anti-nausea drug which also increases the body's ability to increase respiration in response to low oxygen environments.
Sleeping pills for insomnia should not be taken. They are potentially dangerous because they can slow breathing.
Acetazolamide (Diamox) may be prescribed to speed acclimatization.
Acetazolamide is a diuretic (a drug that increases urine production) increases the renal excretion of bicarbonate. This lowers the pH of the blood, which stimulates the extra breath, resulting in higher levels of oxygen in the blood.
In addition, acetazolamide corrects night pauses in breathing known as periodic breathing. Acetazolamide also improve symptoms of insomnia.
HAPE best suits the way down.
Oxygen, if available, should be provided.
Nifedipine (Procardia), a drug for high blood pressure, has proven to be beneficial to HAPE.
Antibiotics may be given if there is fever and pneumonia are possible.
For more severe cases of HAPE, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask ventilation can be used. Although uncomfortable to wear, mask CPAP helps by increasing the pressure of the air inhaled.
If this fails, a tube may be placed in the mouth and airways. This, in conjunction with ventilatory support is necessary for the treatment of respiratory failure.
The only definitive treatment is a hare down.
Dexamethasone (Decadron, a steroid) may be beneficial.
In general, if dexamethasone is considered, then a glide path should be in place unless descent is impossible.
Some people, after receiving dexamethasone, can feel a lot better than they want to continue to rise. Under no circumstances should this be allowed.
Oxygen can be helpful.
Gamow bag can be purchased at the time until landing is possible.
Anyone with hare or HAPE should be as comfortable as possible.
Efforts of all types should be minimized, even during the descent.
This means that it may be necessary to organize the landing of the sick person, by whatever means available (helicopters, snowmobiles, or a mule, for example).
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