About High Altitude Illness

- What is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) And How to Avoid It

The high altitude and people's reaction to it is one of the difficulties to travel to Tibet. But it is not so serious as you imagined if you know it and get prepared for it.

• What is High Altitude?

- High Altitude: 1500 - 3500 m (5000 - 11500 ft)
- Very High Altitude: 3500 - 5500 m (11500 - 18000 ft)
- Extreme Altitude: above 5500 m

When acclimatization lags significantly behind ascent, various symptoms occur. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) represents the body's intolerance of the hypoxic (low oxygen) environment at one's current elevation

• What kinds of physiologic reactions will occur?

- Hyperventilation (breathing fast)
- Shortness of breath during exertion
- Increased urination
- Changed breathing pattern at night
- Awakening frequently at night
- Weird dreams

• The altitudes of different places in Tibet

 

Place	Altitude	Place	Altitude
Lhasa	3658 m 12001 ft	Nyingchi	3000 m 9843 ft
Nagqu	4507 m 14787 ft	Tsedang	3500 m 11483 ft
Qamdo	3205 m 10515 ft	Xigatse	3836 m 12585 ft
Damshung	4200 m 13780 ft	Gyangtse	4040 m 13255 ft
Pome	2750 m 9022 ft	Tingri	4300 m 14108 ft
Amdo	4800 m 15748 ft	Zayui	2325 m 7628 ft

• Tips to avoid AMS

- Do exercises to keep you fit before coming to Tibet.
- Avoid catching a cold.
- Make sure you have a good sleep the night before you flying to Lhasa.
- You'd better not to take any activities for the first day in Tibet.
- After getting off your airplane in the airport, walk slowly, take some deep breath. Do not do anything severely.
- Ascend to higher altitude gradually. DO NOT ASCEND ANY HIGHER if you feel bad.
- Prepare some AMS pills according to your doctor's suggestion.

 

Further Readings

- Outdoor Action Guide to High Altitude: Acclimatization and Illnesses
- All About Altitude Illness
- The High Altitude Medicine Guide