It is a thrilling journey to EBC, but one filled with numerous challenges, one of the biggest being Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Because the higher and higher you go, the less and less oxygen there is in the air, and your body had better be able to handle taking in this less-oxygenated air. This can lead to minor discomfort or even serious health conditions as symptoms. When choosing to trek to Everest Base Camp, you need to know how to recognize early signs of AMS.
Forced to guided or unguided trekking, if you can afford the financial cost, you can prevent your health and life from being threatened by this kind of altitude sickness by knowing the AMS symptoms earlier. The preceding is what you should know about what AMS is, how to recognize it, and what to do if you or someone in the group begins to experience symptoms of this potential killer.
What is AMS?
AMS occurs when you are ambitious to scale to a higher altitude and the body isn’t yet acclimatized. The Mt Everest Base Camp trek itinerary will have you hiking to nearly 5,364m (17,598ft) at Base Camp, and heck, that’s a pretty high altitude for anyone, no matter how well they keep in shape. When you climb high, your body struggles to get all of the oxygen it needs, and that can lead to symptoms of AMS.
The precise cause of AMS remains a mystery, but the rapid fall in pressure and levels of oxygen no doubt play a part. It generally presents symptoms at 2,500 meters or higher, er but you would be well on your way to a bid for added risk, especially once you reach elevations higher than 3,000m (9,800ft).
Signs and symptoms of AMS: Things to look for
Knowing the symptoms will help you to act in case you or anyone in your group of hiking group starts to exhibit them. The symptoms can range in severity, so listen to your body.
Headache
The most frequent early manifestation of AMS is headache. This isn’t a normal headache, but a continuous dull throb that intensifies the higher you go. If you’ve ever had a headache at sea level, you have some sense of what that’s like. But for people with AMS, the headache is different and more intense.
And just remember, it’s not simply a headache that makes your headache an AMS. But if the headache lingers and other symptoms start encroaching, that has got to be a red flag that something is not right.
Nausea and Loss of Appetite
That’s because, being on the trek, you are often going to be higher, up, and as such, of course, you might be ill or just turned off by food. Those are the textbook symptoms of AMS. Sick to the stomach to the extent of vomiting. This is especially true during the first days of AMS when your body has not yet acclimatized to the lower oxygen content.
(Also, even if you’re not hungry, when you are trekking in an Everest Base Camp Trek package or any trek, drink loads of water, eat light food, this is to avoid AMS.)
Fatigue and Weakness
Profound fatigue is a symptom very commonly associated with AMS. You’re probably not going to get tired, not the way you do after a layoff. It’s not weariness from exercise — it’s extreme tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest. Your muscles just feel weak, and it’s impossible to even think about going down from the flatness of the EBC trek. It’s hard to even think about running at your normal pace.
Difficulty Sleeping
You may have some difficulty falling or staying asleep as you go higher. That’s because the amount of oxygen in your body drops as you go up, and you may not be able to get enough oxygen lying down. But you may still find you that huff and puffing and lying awake moaning if you have AMS.”
Swelling (Edema)
Other red flags of AMS are edema, the fancy word for swelling, in your hands, feet, or face. Fluid may start to be retained in the body, and there might be some swelling due to this lack of oxygen. This is particularly marked in the face, fingers, and ankles and may be exacerbated on continued ascent.
Swelling is often one of several classic AMS symptoms, so if you notice any sort of swelling with headache, nausea, fatigue, then yeah, you’ll want to be heading down as well.
Shortness of Breath
You’ll feel winded walking around, as your body asserts itself against thin air. Text}() It’s a common reaction to high altitudes, but if you have severe or persistent breathlessness, it could be a sign of something more serious, like more severe AMS, or high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE).
What to Do if You Suspect AMS
If you or one of your trekking companions experiences symptoms of AMS on the Everest Base Camp trek, you will want to take action. AMS symptoms can escalate rapidly — you will have to check these boxes.
Stop going up Rest: If you feel any signs of AMS, the next thing to do is stop and rest. Do not go up past the height where you felt sick until the symptoms get better. Treatment: The top way to treat AMS is to rest. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated and eat small, good meals. Not having enough water and food can make AMS worse.
Descend if needed. If symptoms continue or get worse even after a few hours of rest, the best treatment is to descend to a lower elevation. Drop 500-1,000m (1,640-3,280ft) and you should begin to feel some improvement from AMS.
Use the Drug: Diamox (acetazolamide) is known as the top drug for people who hike to stop and fix AMS. Ask your guide or a doctor if you should use it too.
Watch for Signs: You might think you have the signs in check, but they can quickly get worse. Watch your signs and get help fast if they get bad.
Conclusion: Be Safe and Seize the Day on Your EBC Trek
It is the key to appreciating symptoms of AMS well, which can be a matter of life or death on the Everest base camp trek. While AMS may be a high-altitude condition, knowing how to identify signs and respond early could be a matter of life or death. Whether you’re off on an Everest base camp trek package or going it alone, the wisdom of how to identify IMS in its early stages can be your friend and help keep you out and about doing what could be the trip of your life.
And if you start early, AMS is fun. For going up, look above. (If not sure: go down and find real help.) Keep on, drink water, and take care of your body (and get to the top!) It will thank you as you take in the amazing sights of Everest Base Camp.