Influence Factors of High Altitude Sickness

Influence Factors of High Altitude Sickness – Altitude

In general, the high altitude sickness will be more serious when you stay at higher places, and the chance to get high altitude sickness is more. It is reported that the incidence of high altitude sickness below 3500 meters is about 37 percents to 51 percent, while the incidence of high altitude sickness will reach 50 percents at the altitude between 3600 meters and 5000 meters.

Influence Factors of High Altitude Sickness – Way of Coming into High Plateau

The rising velocity and rising range when come into high altitude place will directly affected the degree of high altitude sickness. The high altitude will be stronger when you come into high plateau slowly than quickly. It is reported that from plain to the place where about 4200 meters high in three days, the incidence of high altitude sickness is 83.5 percents; while going to 4200 meters high place from 2261 meters high place in 7 to 15 days, the incidence of high altitude sickness is just 52.7 percents.

Influence Factors of High Altitude Sickness – Areas and Season

In different area, even the areas at the same altitude, the high altitude sickness will be lighter at the forest covered area than in barrenly areas. In the same area, the high altitude sickness will be lighter at the place where air can freely flow; the daytime will be better than at night.

From the point of seasons, the incidents of high altitude sickness in winter will be higher than in other season. As the temperature in cold winter is low, air pressure will decrease, and the oxygen content will even decrease; furthermore, the cold will stimulate metabolism, which will increase the oxygen consumption and cause respiratory tract infection.

Influence Factors of High Altitude Sickness – Individual Quality

The adaptive capacity to poor oxygen condition almost depends on the one's natural predisposition. The factors which related with individual quality are many, including nationality, residence, healthy condition, sex, age, body type, and mental status and so on.

About the individual quality, there is an old saying that the high altitude sickness will occur on male, the fat, the taller and who do more activities, except the nationality, residence. Although that is not absolute, it has certain basis. For the reason, it may relate with the erythrocrit, oxygen demand and oxygen consumption.

The individual mental status is also very important. For optimist, the high altitude sickness is almost lighter.