Fremont, CA
A 37-year-old male asked:
please share a tip in the form of a haiku on dealing with altitude sickness.
7 doctor answers • 17 doctors weighed in
Dr. Keshab Paudel answered
Internal Medicine 19 years experience
Ignore: If any symptoms of headache, nausea or visual problem due to high altitude, please try descend down.
4134 views
Dr. Ethan Bindelglas answered
Family Medicine 22 years experience
Ignore: Ascend slowly, sleep at a lower elevation than highest altitude, stay hydrated. Consider prophylaxis.
3679 views
Dr. Jessica Allan answered
Internal Medicine 23 years experience
Ignore: High altitude Breath
taking views, need Diamox (acetazolamide)
climb high sleep low slow.
3586 views
Dr. Gerardo Guerra Bonilla answered
Family Medicine 12 years experience
Ignore: Gradual ascent is the surest and safest method of preventing or ameliorating high altitude sickness.
1820 views
Dr. Scott Hacking answered
Family Medicine 18 years experience
Ignore: Diamox tablet. Prescribed by HealthTap doctor. Breathing better now.
850 views
A Verified Doctor answered
A US doctor answered Learn more
Ignore: High up the mountain
It's becoming hard to breathe
Beware the thin air.
564 views
Dr. Aveshen Govender answered
Specializes in General Practice
Ignore: Ascend slowly. Your body needs 2 or 3 days to adjust to the increases in altitude.
236 views
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Similar questions
CA
A 34-year-old member asked:
What sort of problem is altitude illness?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Colin Kerr answered
Family Medicine 44 years experience
Altitude illness: Altitude illness can be a serious problem. If not recognized early , it can be fatal. The key aspect of prevention is to acclimatize yourself to a medium altitude before you go to high altitude. Consultation with an md can get you medicine to reduce the risk of illness. Many people (eg, skiers at 5000') experience mild illness--jittery, headache, insomnia. These mean it is time to take a break.
6040 views
CA
A 39-year-old member asked:
Are any special tests needed, or can a regular doctor see me for my altitude illness?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. William Lizarraga answered
Internal Medicine 16 years experience
Regular doctor: Your primary care doctor can probably handle this without special testing. Some exceptions include people with lung and heart disease that require special consideration of their oxygen intake, but for most people, the primary care doctor is the best place to start!
6024 views
A 44-year-old member asked:
Are the symptoms of altitude illness bad?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Gurmukh Singh answered
Pathology 49 years experience
Yes: High altitude sickness is associated with fluid accumulation in the lungs which causes severe shortness of breath and if left untreated, may be lethal.
5976 views
A member asked:
Do doctors see a lot of patients with altitude illness?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Gurmukh Singh answered
Pathology 49 years experience
No: High altitude illness occurs at high altitudes only, usually in association with mountain climbing.
5968 views
A member asked:
How common is it for somebody to get altitude illness?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Marybeth Lambe answered
Travel Medicine 45 years experience
Common: Almost 1/3 of people have symptoms above 3000 meters (9800 feet) some seem more sensitive at lower altitude. Going up faster, (also sleeping high at night, perhaps not being fit, not using preventative medicine) all increase risk. Altitude illness is first reversible by reversing direction and going back downhill. If ignored--deaths do occur. Take it seriously and learn about symptoms.
4552 views
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Nov 10, 2019
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