Severe Symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness

Skiers, hikers, and mountain climbers today can easily and rapidly attain high altitudes. Especially in climbing, competition of going higher and faster leads to greater exertion and less acclimatization. There are many additional diseases occurred including high altitude cerebral edema and high altitude pulmonary edema, high altitude retinal hemorrhage and high altitude systemic edema, all of which are worse than common typical signs and symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness.

Acute Mountain Sickness – High Altitude Retinal Hemorrhage

What the High Altitude Retinal Hemorrhage is

Retinal hemorrhage is a disorder of the eye in which bleeding occurs into the retina. It is commonly seen at altitudes above 4270m. 30% people will suffer this severe Acute Mountain Sickness when they reach 5300m. In general, this hemorrhage has no pain and it doesn't affect our vision. But in some cases, serious hemorrhage will make people blurred vision. When it happens, people are highly suggested to descend down to lower places otherwise it would be worse.

As usual, our vision will be come back after 4-6 weeks after we go back home. But few people will be affected in their whole life.

Treatment of High Altitude Retinal Hemorrhage

People should slightly raise our feet but avoid moving to prevent blood clots fall off. Loosen tight clothes and lie down slowly. And then drink some water.

Have some Aspirin for 4-5 days. If the case becomes worse, patients should be transferred to lower places immediately.

Acute Mountain Sickness – High Altitude Systemic Edema

When sodium and moisture stored up in the body and can not been discharged by kidney, systemic edema will be occurred in high altitude. This case would be occurred individually without common signs and symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness. Female is easier than male to suffer high altitude systemic edema.

High Altitude Systemic Edema is one of the severe Acute Mountain Sickness but it is relatively slight than pulmonary edema and cerebral edema. People could be totally recovered again after they back to lower places.

Signs and symptoms of High Altitude Systemic Edema

Hand and feet will be edema, the mouth and face will also probably be edema in the morning. Less urine volume and weight gain.

How to Treat High Altitude Systemic Edema

Avoid food of higher saltiness and take some Furosemide.