FAQ of High Altitude Sickness

Will high altitude sickness be harmful to health?

High altitude sickness refers to natural physical reaction after reaching a certain altitude height, which caused by adapting to the air pressure difference, oxygen deficiency, dry air and some other changes. When the altitude reaches about 2700 meters, people may appear high altitude sickness. The main symptoms of high altitude sickness mainly include headache, short breath, chest distress, anorexia, low fever, hypodynamia and so on. Some people may appear purple lips and fingernails, hypersomnia, hyperpragia and other phenomenon. Part of people will appear pachylosis, parched lips, nose bleeding and so on. The high altitude sickness is a kind of reversible reaction. For tourists and people who live for a short time on high plateau, these symptoms will disappear after leaving high plateau. It will not harm health.

How to do exercise in advance to prevent high altitude sickness?

It will be much better if you keep doing exercise. People do not keep doing exercise are suggested to do some adaptive training one month in advance. The exercises should focus on aerobic exercise, to improve physical endurance by training cardio-pulmonary function and doing strength exercises.

Climbing up stair can exercise endurance, increase cardio-pulmonary function and the strength of legs. You can do one or two times one day, with 15 floors high each time.

Swimming can exercise endurance and increase cardio-pulmonary function. You are suggested to swim three times in a week, and increase the distance every time.

Jogging can exercise endurance. You are suggested to jog for half an hour in every morning.

What should do after reaching high plateau?

For healthy people, there is no need to worry about high altitude sickness. In the high plateau condition, the normal people will have stress response to adapt to new condition. At this time, keep in good mood can help you adapt to high plateau life more quickly.

You are suggested to buy some rhodiola buccal tablet in advance, and take one or two tablets everyday. It can improve the oxygen melt capacity of blood, effectively prevent high altitude sickness. In the first few days after reaching high plateau, you are suggested to avoid vigorous activities. About the diet, it should focus on high-sugar, high-protein food, have more meals but eat less at each meal to reduce the burden of digestive organs. After coming into Tibet, you should not directly reach very high places. The increase height in a day should be controlled in 400 meters to 600 meters, and take a rest after reaching a new height.