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Home remedies for altitude sickness include drinking water, avoiding exercise, acetaminophen, herbal potion, lemon soda, ginger, etc. Many people feel uneasiness and sickness when they climb high altitudes. This is termed as acute mountain or altitude sickness. Symptoms can be seen after 12 to 24 hours of arrival. These normally increase at night. Some of the symptoms are increasing rate of heartbeat, breathing problem due to physical exertion, nausea, tiredness, headache, sleeplessness, etc. Air is thinner at high altitudinal areas. As higher you climb, you get less oxygen to breathe, which evolves as the vital reason for altitude sickness. To compensate it, one needs to practice deep breathing exercises.
Altitude Sickness is also known by the name of acute mountain sickness. At times, it also results into High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), which happens to be a very life threatening condition. The basic reason for the cause of altitude sickness is also the failure of acclimatisation of the human body beyond a certain elevation. Most of the times, the human body fails to adjust in terms of homeostasis of fluid balance and chemistry. At times, the process of acclimatisation stretches from days to weeks, after which the body can at least respond to the external stimulus, is the appreciated manner.
According to theUniversity of Buffalo Reporter, brain swelling and pulmonary edema are major problems at high altitude.
The prominent symptoms of altitude sickness are:
- General malaise
- Pins and needles
- Insomnia
- Light headedness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Persistent rapid pulse
- Peripheral Edema
- Fatigue
Home remedies prove substantially helpful in dealing with the symptoms of altitude sickness. In addition to it, it is hard to get medical assistance in hilly and mountainous regions. Hence, one should be aware of home remedies to prevent altitude sickness. Different home remedies and measures to avoid altitude sickness are mentioned below:
- Drink Water: As your breathing is fast and deep, you tend to dehydrate more. So, drink water in considerable amount to keep yourself hydrated. Be at vigilance and check whether the urine is clear and in proper quantity. Alcohol can add to the dehydration problem and so, it is better to avoid it thoroughly, especially when you are climbing at higher elevations.
- Avoid Exercises: Exercising should be avoided, even if it is not rigorous, till you are not suited in altitude completely. Thus, when you are at high altitudes, invest more of your time in leisure activities, rather than in those which require draining of energy. Limiting exertion is better than using innumerable medications. Activities like running, hiking, lifting, straining etc can worsen the symptoms of altitude sickness.
- Acetaminophen: Rather than using drugs like aspirin, which have side effects, it’s advisable to use acetaminophen, a safer drug conferring instant relief from pain at higher elevations.
- Herbal Potion: The potions are made from the common ingredients which are easily found at home. Ingredients include basic and normal things like lemon, water, ginger garlic, honey, etc. Drinking the potion helps in building body stamina, fight cold, cough, fever, headaches, gives energy to combat in high altitude areas etc.
- Ginko Biloba: It is the common drug for altitude sickness, which comes with various side effects like feeling sleepy and thirsty. So, please avoid it. In place of it, you can use Gingko Biloba. It is an herbal supplement, very much famed for treating memory problem. But not everybody knows that it works like wonder in altitude sickness. It eliminates the symptoms and effects of altitude sickness. It enhances circulation in body system. This helps your brain to get more blood and hence, more oxygen. This helps you to stay healthier in the atmosphere of thinner air. Now how you can take this herbal supplement is a big question. Take 60 mg of it daily, at least before five days of ascending. You may also take it one day prior to the journey. Gingko extract is better than capsule, as liquid absorbs in body faster and effectively than any capsule or tablets.
- Lemon Soda: It can be in taken to prevent vomiting, the colloquial tendency. But home remedies are more useful and easy to get. You can take a glass of fresh sweet lemon soda, digestive capsules made of herbs and natural ingredients like green mango, amla, ginger, methi, etc.
- Eat Digestible Food: Avoid eating heavy, oily, junk foods while ascending upwards. You can also eat in small portion. Eat stuff which is easily digestible.
- Ginger: Christopher Hobbs, the renowned herbalist believes ginger to be very beneficial for treating altitude sickness, as it plays a pivotal role in treating mild levels of altitude sickness. It is advisable to mix 20 drops of ginger liquid with half cup of water in case you suffer from altitude sickness.
Travellers can experience High Altitude Cerebral Edema or High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, in case the emergent medical attention is not sought for in worst situation, as confirmed by International Society For Mountain Medicine.
This article was contributed by Seema Adnani
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References:University of Buffalo Reporter, International Society For Mountain Medicine.
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