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Symptoms of Altitude sickness
Symptoms of mild altitude sickness are:·
- headache,
- tiredness,
- feeling unsteady,
- feeling sick and vomiting,
- racing heartbeat,
- laboured breathing,
- loss of appetite,
- shortness of breath during exertion,
- breathing faster or deeper,
- difficulty sleeping and irregular breathing during sleep, and
- urinating frequently.
The following symptoms indicate a medical emergency and anyone experiencing them should descend to a lower altitude as soon as possible:
- worsening of the mild symptoms given above,
- persistent irritable cough,
- breathlessness,
- bubbling sound in the chest,
- coughing up pink frothy liquid (sputum) - indicating fluid in the lungs,
- difficulty in walking and clumsy movements,
- irrational behaviour,
- double vision,
- convulsions,
- drowsiness, or
- confusion – indicating swelling of the brain, or fluid in the brain.
Other symptoms may include swelling of the face, arms or legs (known as peripheral oedema) which usually lasts a few days and disappears. Tiny blood blisters at the back of the eyes (retinal haemorrhages) are also common above 5000m (16500ft) but are rarely noticed and only occasionally interfere with vision.
