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Against Mountain Sickness

AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) is very common at high altitude.

At over 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) 75% of people will have mild symptoms. The occurrence of AMS is dependent upon the elevation, the rate of ascent, and individual susceptibility. Many people will experience mild AMS during the acclimatization process. The symptoms usually start 12 to 24 hours after arrival at altitude and begin to decrease in severity around the third day.

The symptoms of Mild AMS include:
* Headache
* Nausea & Dizziness
* Loss of appetite
* Fatigue
* Shortness of breath
* Disturbed sleep
* General feeling of malaise

Symptoms tend to be worse at night and when respiratory drive is decreased. Mild AMS does not interfere with normal activity and symptoms generally subside within two to four days as the body acclimatizes. As long as symptoms are mild, and only a nuisance, ascent can continue at a moderate rate.

The altitudes of different places in Tibet

Place

Altitude

Place

Altitude

Lhasa

3658 m

Nyingchi

3000 m

12001 ft

9843 ft

Nagqu

4507 m

Tsedang

3500 m

14787 ft

11483 ft

Qamdo

3205 m

Xigatse

3836 m

10515 ft

12585 ft

Damshung

4200 m

Gyantse

4040 m

13780 ft

13255 ft

Pome

2750 m

Tingri

4300 m

9022 ft

14108 ft

Amdo

4800 m

Zayui

2325 m

15748 ft

7628 ft



Symptoms tend to be worse at night and when respiratory drive is decreased. Mild AMS does not interfere with normal activity and symptoms generally subside within two to four days as the body acclimatizes. As long as symptoms are mild, and only a nuisance, ascent can continue at a moderate rate.

1. Do not overexert yourself or more higher for the first 24 hours.
2. If you begin to show symptoms of moderate altitude sickness, don't go higher until symptoms decrease.
3. Stay properly hydrated. Acclimatization is often accompanied by fluid loss, so you need to drink lots of fluids to remain properly hydrated.
4. Take it easy and don't overexert yourself when you first get up to altitude. But, light activity during the day is better than sleeping because respiration decreases during sleep, exacerbating the symptoms.
5. Avoid tobacco, alcohol and other depressant drugs including, barbiturates, tranquillizers, sleeping pills and opiates such as dihydrocodeine. These further decrease the respiratory drive during sleep resulting in a worsening of symptoms.
6. Remember: Acclimatization is inhibited by overexertion, dehydration, and alcohol.
7. Prepare some AMS pills according to your doctor's suggesstion.
8. Do exercises to keep you fit before coming to Tibet.
Who can't go
Everyone should have more or less altitude symptoms. However, those who have the following symptoms may not going to Tibet
1. something relating to Tuberculosis, pneumonia, serious tracheitis, bronchitis
2. Serious heart attack, high blood pressure
3. have already got a serious cold
To learn more details, here we provide some useful links for you to follow.
Please click here: An Altitude Tutorial and here for Tibet Climate and Weather