Altitude Sickness

When trekking in Nepal Himalayas “Altitude related Problems” are the important factors to be considered because there is always a real danger of mild to serious problems related to altitude and it is important that trekkers understand that they will be affected to a greater or lesser extent when they ascend to altitudes over about 3000 meters. Altitude sickness, often known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and it means the effect of altitude on those who ascend too rapidly to elevation above 3000 m.

Health and medicine:
Medication shops are few on trekking routes. Therefore, it is best to carry first aid kit and read about the possible problems before hand. On the Everest Base camp route at Pheriche and on the Annapurna Circuit route at Manang, there are clinics operated by the Himalayan Rescue Association that specializes in treating trekker’s health problems. These clinics are open only during the main trekking seasons. While on treks, the following problems could occur:
1. Upset stomach, often caused by change in diet or contaminated food and water is a common ailment. To avoid it, one should pay particular attention to hygiene and quality of food and drinks.

2. Cough, cold, sore throats, common in the dry mountain air can lead to chest infection. Some throats can best be avoided by attempting not to breathe cold air directly through the mouth. Smoking should also be avoided.

3. Joint muscle strains, foot problems and blisters are other hindrances for trekkers. Wearing good footwear will go a long way in avoiding these problems. For sprains and strains, apply cold water to reduce swelling and support the joint with crepe bandage.

4. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a fatal sickness caused by random altitudes ascension. Therefore, climbers ascending 3000 meters or above should acquire sound knowledge of proper acclimatization processes. Symptoms of AMS include headache, loss of appetite, swelling of limbs, dizziness, and difficulty in sleeping, irregular breathing, nausea and unusual weariness. Maintaining good fluid intake helps combat altitude sickness and hurried descent or evacuation to lower altitude is the only best cure.

Safety and security:
Nepal is a safe country to trek provided the basic rules are observed. When with trekking agency most contingencies are handled by agency staff. However, one should get lost or hurt and have no one to ask for help when trekking alone. Therefore, trekkers should trek with registered and reliable trekking agency. The best way to avoid risk while trekking is through thorough planning, playing by the rules and realizing human limitations. In case of misfortune, s short detailed message should be dispatched to a reliable organization or individual immediately for rescue operation. If communication facilities are unavailable, normal first aid principles should be followed till help arrives. Some of the safety rules to abide by are:

1. Do not trek alone.
2. Do not make a display of wealth.
3. Keep belongings secure and within sight.
4. Make arrangements for handling emergency situations before hand.
5. Register personal information and trekking plan details with respective embassies.
6. Buy travel insurance policy that covers helicopter rescue cost. Leave a copy of details with respective travel agency.
7. choose only authorized government registered trekking agencies, guides and porters.