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Acclimatisation Ebc Mor

Ebc trek

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4 views3 pages

Acclimatisation Ebc Mor

Ebc trek

Uploaded by

prashantk816383
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ACCLIMATISATION

Everest Base camp trek

Although many thousands of trekkers successfully reach Everest Base Camp every year without any real
difficulty, few of them do not make it to the top because they suffer from altitude sickness, to avoid this
it is very important to acclimatize by ascending slowly and steadily, even if you are fit, you should not
try to rush up Everest base camp.

Altitude effects

The altitude sickness is the shortage of oxygen: as you climb higher, the air gets thinner. At 5000 m,
atmospheric pressure is about 50% of that at sea level. The simple solutions sounds like having to
breathe twice as fast to inspire as much oxygen, but the reality is much worse. The lungs' ability to
extract oxygen deteriorates rapidly with altitude, in fact the rate of decline is much faster than the
decline in oxygen pressure. Furthermore, when climbing at altitude on difficult terrain, the body needs
more oxygen any ways.

Your heart is what pumps the blood around the body. The lungs load oxygen into your red blood cells for
delivery to your muscles and other vital organs. The oxygen demands from your muscles vary depending
on their activity level, but your brain also needs its share. Your brain is only 2% of your total body weight
however it consumes 15% of the oxygen. If it gets less, judgment declines, control suffers and speech
can become confused.

Your body responds to needing more oxygen by:

 Breathing faster and deeper


 Your heart beating faster, increasing the oxygen reaching your tissues and
forcing blood into parts of your lungs which aren't usually used
 Expelling excess fluids and creating more red blood cells, making the blood
thicker
These changes happen over different time-scales. Fast breathing is usually immediate. Your heart
rate will rise within minutes. After several days, your blood starts to thicken. If you find yourself
urinating a lot, that is usually a sign that your body is acclimatizing well. Creating more red blood cells
usually takes longer than most people would be on the mountain, so it doesn't help your EBC
acclimatization.

You can help yourself acclimatize by breathing steadily and deeply, and by drinking plenty of water (at
least 3 - 4 liters a day). Sleep is also very important, and avoids sleeping pills and alcohol, which depress
breathing.

ACETAZOLAMIDE (DIAMOX)

The most used drug for preventionof alttitude sickness

The medication acidifies the blood, which causes an increase in respiration, thus accelerating
acclimatization. Diamox does not disguise symptoms of altitude sickness it prevents it. Studies have
shown that Diamox at a dose of 250 mg every eight to twelve hours before and during rapid ascent to
altitude results in fewer and/or less severe symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS). The medicine
should be continued until you are below the altitude where symptoms became bothersome. Side effects
of acetazolamide include tingling or numbness in the fingers, toes and face, taste alterations, excessive
urination; and rarely, blurring of vision. These go away when the medicine is stopped. It is a personal
choice of the climber whether or not to take Diamox as a preventative measure against AMS.

Please read the full instructions that come with the product for advice on safety and allergy. Mission
Outdoors neither condemns or recommends the use of Acetazolamide

HERBAL REMEDIES

The International Society for Mountain Medicine states that Gingko Biloba extract has been used to
prevent the symptoms of acute mountain sickness before they occur. It should be taken daily during
ascension to a higher altitude and continually after that.

IBUPROFEN

Ibuprofen can be used to relieve altitude induced headaches

BOTTLED OXYGEN
Request can be placed for Bottled oxygen cylinders to be carried by our staff for an additional fee. It is
for use only in emergency situations. It is NOT used to assist clients to climb to an higher altitude as they
require a person to immediately descend to a lower altitude. The most immediate treatment for
moderate and serious altitude sickness is descent. With EBC routes, it is always possible to quickly
descend. Therefore oxygen can only be used to treat a stricken climber, in conjunction with descent, to
treat those with moderate and severe altitude sickness.
Some operators offer emergency oxygen systems as means of eliminating the symptoms of AMS. To
administer oxygen in this manner and for this purpose is very dangerous, because it is only a temporary
treatment of altitude sickness. After use of the cylinder, the client would be at an even higher altitude
with no proper acclimatization.

Some tips of acclimatization while on Everest base camp

 Ascend slowly: Your guide will tell you ‘Araam Se’(Slowly Slowly) throughout your climb.
Because it takes time to acclimatize, your ascension should be slow. Taking rest will help. Taking
an extra days or Acclimatization Days increases your chance to reach the base camp by up to
30% and also increase your chance to enjoying the experience more.
 Do not over exert yourself.
 Mild exercise may help altitude acclimatization, but strenuous activity may promote HAPE.
 Eat enough food and drink plenty of water while on your climb.
 It is recommended that you deink four to five liters of fluid per day. Also, eat a high calorie
diet while at altitude, even if your appetites is low.
 Take slow, steady, controlled deep breaths.
 Avoid tobacco, alcohol and other depressant drugs including barbiturates, tranquilizers,
sleeping pills and opiates. These will further decrease the respiratory drive during sleep
resulting in a worsening of altitude sickness.
 If you being to show symptoms of altitude sickness; don’t go higher until symptoms decrease
if symptoms increase, descend and consult your guide immediately.

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