Altitude sickness Mountain sickness

 

You might be preparing a trek in the Himalaya and wondering about this very important safety informations: altitude sickness. It doesn't matter if your healthy or not, altitude sickness can happen to anybody no matter their training skills before. At the high altitudes the oxygen pressure is very low and the symptomatic and physiological reactions of human body to the reduced pressure of oxygen are referred as the high altitude sickness. Generally it is termed as the "mountain sickness".

 

Nepal is a mountain country and its northern half is sheltered by the Himalayas and other 14 tallest mountains of the world, all over 26,000 feet. The highest peak of Himalayan range, Mount Everest being about 29,028 feet tall is an exigent destination for trekkers and mountaineers. Hence Nepal has been a well-liked tourists spot for mountain voyage and hiking. Therefore, it's very important to know more about altitude sickness because once you go over 3000 m, some can already suffer from that important problem.  

 

People generally feel the meek symptoms of this altitude sickness at the height of about 2200- 2500 m above the sea level. The sickness may vary from one to another. The rate of altitude sickness is directly proportional to the rate of ascent. The longer you stay at the altitude more sickness you will feel. Therefore it's important to have an experimented guide who knows how to behave in that case.  

 

Himalayan ranges in Nepal is the place where the tourists often feel this sickness. The altitude sickness if not taken seriously may turn into severe problems and might lead to death at times. About 4 percent death rate is reported at the peaks over 7000m.

 

Cause and consequences of high altitude sickness

 

Our body reacts in many different ways when the oxygen pressure falls down. Altitude sickness happens by trekking to a greater height quite fast and staying there for more than a day, the effect is more intense if the person is not acclimatized beforehand. The physical fitness of a being is not at all related to the high altitude sickness; even the hale and hearty athlete may face such sickness symptoms. Be also aware that it's usually the fit person who suffer the most of altitude sickness while pushing the rythm of ascencion to high.

 

This dropped pressure of oxygen affects our pulse rate and breathing rate which consecutively have an effect on pumping efficiency of heart and the number and size of red blood cells. Apart from these there are many other redundant consequences such as—

 

increased lung circulation pressure

changes in pH value of blood

Disturbed electrolyte and fluid balance

Blood or odema leakage into adjoining tissues and vessels

 

Be careful of the stern symptoms mentioned below when you are on holidays in the Himalayan ranges-

 

A severe and long lasting headache, which is not healed by taking the regular painkillers.

Queasiness and recurring vomiting.

Irksome wooziness and difficulty in balancing and finding directions.

Continuous disturbance in vision and judging distance.

Strain in the chest, brisk pulse rate and breathing, and breathe shortness.

Inflammation under the skin, usually under the eyes and in hands and ankles.

 

Taking the above things into consideration the government of Nepal has conducted crusades to increase consciousness about the altitude sickness among tourists. It is recommended to take the necessary medicines while going on an expedition to the high altitudes in Nepal. However the guides arranging the trekking make the voyagers aware of the dangers associated with the altitude sickness. Remember that nobody is resistant to the effects of altitude sickness; neither the veteran trekker, nor the fit, nor medical employees!

 

"My guide told me a story about a German doctor that wanted to reach the Everest base camps telling her guide that as a doctor she would know when the situation get dangerous about the altitude sickness. The guide insisted telling that she had to be careful. A few nights after, she had to be evacuated by helicopter because she was suffering one of the last step of altitude sickness.. She admit her fault and the knowledge of the guide concerning this very important and dangerous sickness. She finally survived thanks to the guide that had to carry her down hill for fews hundred meters in order that the helicopter could evacuate her."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Festivals of Nepal:

 

February/march:  Maha Shivaratri, Holi (Phagu Poornima), Losar

 

March/April: Sri Panchami, Chaite, Dashain, Ram Nawami, Ghode Jatra

 

April/May:  Navavarsha  (Nepalese New Year), Buddha Jayanti/Baisak Poornima)

 

June/July: Dumji

 

July/august: Krishnaastami, Janai Poornima, Gaijatra (One of the most fascinating festivals of Nepal takes place during this month for 8 days. People makes jokes, satires and comedies of all kinds. Although this festival is celebrated across Nepal, it has a particular enthusiasm in Kathmandu Valley)

August/september: Indrajatra, Teej 

 

September/october: Dasahin (The biggest festival of Nepal, celebrated on a 15 days period)

 

October/November: Tihar (Light festival, celebrated for 5 days)

 

November/December:  Chath Parba, Vivaha Panchami,  Bala Chaturdasi

 

 

 

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