About High Altitude Illness
- What is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) And How to Avoid It
The high altitude and people's reaction to it is one of
the difficulties to travel to Tibet. But it is not so serious as
you imagined if you know it and get prepared for it.
- High Altitude: 1500 - 3500 m (5000 - 11500 ft)
- Very High Altitude: 3500 - 5500 m (11500 - 18000 ft)
- Extreme Altitude: above 5500 m
When acclimatization lags significantly behind ascent, various
symptoms occur. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) represents
the body's intolerance of the hypoxic (low oxygen) environment at
one's current elevation
-
What kinds of physiologic reactions will occur?
- Hyperventilation (breathing fast)
- Shortness of breath during exertion
- Increased urination
- Changed breathing pattern at night
- Awakening frequently at night
- Weird dreams
-
The altitudes of different places in Tibet
Place |
Altitude
|
Place |
Altitude |
Lhasa  |
3658 m
12001 ft |
Nyingchi
 |
3000 m
9843 ft |
Nagqu  |
4507 m
14787 ft |
Tsedang
 |
3500 m
11483 ft |
Qamdo  |
3205 m
10515 ft |
Xigatse
 |
3836 m
12585 ft |
Damshung
 |
4200 m
13780 ft |
Gyangtse
 |
4040 m
13255 ft |
Pome  |
2750 m
9022 ft |
Tingri  |
4300 m
14108 ft |
Amdo  |
4800 m
15748 ft |
Zayui  |
2325 m
7628 ft |
- Do exercises to keep you fit before coming to Tibet.
- Avoid catching a cold.
- Make sure you have a good sleep the night before you flying to
Lhasa.
- You'd better not to take any activities for the first day in Tibet.
- After getting off your airplane in the airport, walk slowly, take
some deep breath. Do not do anything severely.
- Ascend to higher altitude gradually. DO NOT ASCEND ANY HIGHER
if you feel bad.
- Prepare some AMS pills according to your doctor's suggestion.
- Outdoor
Action Guide to High Altitude: Acclimatization and Illnesses
- All
About Altitude Illness
- The
High Altitude Medicine Guide
|
