Attitude Sickness

Attitude Sickness is also termed as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). It is a pathological effect of high altitude in humans, specially caused by the low partial pressure of oxygen at a high altitude. Those stresses can include cold, low humidity, increased ultraviolet radiation and decreased air pressure. Physically fit people can also suffer from AMS, if they could not gradually cope with the altitude at proper acclimatization, process of human body to adjust to higher altitudes. Depending on the altitude, that process takes weeks to acclimate. Attitude sickness often happens when one individual moves from sea level to high altitude in a single day.

Mountain climbers, trekkers, skiers, and travelers to the Himalayas or other high mountains are at greater risk. It is normally advised not to travel directly from low altitude to more than 2,750 meters altitude in 1 day. Once above 2,750 meters, move sleeping altitude no higher than 500 meter per day, and plan an extra day for acclimatization every 1,000 meters.

Symptoms

• Lack of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
• Fatigue or weakness
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Insomnia
• Pins and needles
• Shortness of breath upon exertion
• Nosebleed
• Persistent rapid pulse
• Drowsiness
• General malaise
• Peripheral edema (swelling of hands, feet, and face).
• Diarrhea
• If action is not taken in time this can lead to serious consequences like,
• Symptoms similar to bronchitis
• Persistent dry cough
• Fever
• Shortness of breath even when resting
• Headache that does not respond to analgesics
• Unsteady gait
• Gradual loss of consciousness
• Increased nausea
• Retinal hemorrhage

Popular treatments and recommendations

• If your breathing is fast and deep, you tend to dehydrate more. Take water in considerable amount to keep you hydrated. Breath by the nose.
• Make a drink of natural ingredients like lemon, water, ginger or garlic. Take this mixture to build up body stamina, fight cold, cough, fever and headaches. It gives energy to combat in high altitude.
• Drink a glass of fresh sweet lemon soda, digestive capsules made of herbs and natural ingredients like green mango, amla, ginger, or methi.
• It is advisable to mix 20 drops of ginger liquid with half cup of water in case you suffer from altitude sickness.
• Rhodiola rosea has a reputation for stimulating the nervous system, decreasing depression, enhancing work performance, eliminating fatigue, and preventing high altitude sickness.
• People believe the natural, fast-acting and non-addictive ingredients such as Zingiber officinalis, Mentha piperita, Kali. phos., Ferrum phos., Cocculus and Pulsatilla vulgaris  in combination may help to minimize shortness of breath, disorientation and speed recovery.
• Head for lower ground if your symptoms do not clear up. Wait on lower ground you are already acclimatized to, for your symptoms to begin to abate. If they do not, keep going lower until they do. Remember, there are only two ways to fully cure altitude sickness: acclimatization or descent. You will have to get to a height where your body is capable of receiving enough oxygen in your bloodstream.
• Use acetaminophen, a safe drug conferring instant relief from pain at higher elevations. 

Prevention

• Take your time traveling to higher altitudes.
• Sleep at an altitude that is lower than the altitude you are at during the day.
• Avoid flying directly into high altitude. Start at or below 304.8 meters and walk up gradually.
• Once you reach 304.8 meters, avoid increasing your sleeping elevation more than 304.8 meters per night., Sleep less once you are climbing high.
• For every 304.8 meters you ascend, spend two nights at the same elevation.
• Eat a high carbohydrate diet (70% of calories) while at altitude.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Stay hydrated.

References

• http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/enviromentalissues/a/AltitudeIllness.htm
• http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-altitude-sickness.html
• http://www.raysahelian.com/altitudesickness.html
• http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/natural-treatments-for-altitude-sickness.html
• http://library.mothernature.com/l/the-green-pharmacy-herbal-handbook/altitude-sickness_2356.html
• http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2012/chapter-2-the-pre-travel-consultation/altitude-illness.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altitude_sickness