How to know if you are developing mountain sickness (AMS) ???

Dr.Barai

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of acute mountain sickness in a general population of visitors to moderate elevations, the characteristics associated with it, and its effect on physical activity. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Resort communities located at 6300 to 9700 feet elevation in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 3158 adult travelers, 16 to 87 years old (mean age [+/- SD], 43.8 +/- 11.8 years). RESULTS: Twenty-five percent of the travelers to moderate elevations developed acute mountain sickness, which occurred in 65% of travelers within the first 12 hours of arrival. Fifty-six percent of those with symptoms reduced their physical activity. The odds favoring acute mountain sickness were 3.5 times as large for visitors whose permanent residence was below 3000 feet elevation as for those whose residence was above 3000 feet; 2.8 times as large for visitors with previous symptoms of acute mountain sickness; and twice as large in travelers younger than 60 years. Women, obese persons, those in poor or average physical condition, and those with underlying lung disease also had a higher occurrence of acute mountain sickness (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acute mountain sickness occurs in 25% of visitors to moderate altitudes and affects activity in most symptomatic visitors. Persons who are younger, less physically fit, live at sea level, have a history of acute mountain sickness, or have underlying lung problems more often develop these symptoms.

Dr.Barai

There have been several scoring systems used to diagnose and quantify mountain sickness in altitude research, most consisting of questionnaires and some with an additional examination by a physician. The Lake Louise Score is such a system arising from consensus meetings in Lake Louise in Canada in 1991 and 1993. It is sensitive enough to detect AMS whilst having sufficient specificity not to lead to undue over diagnosis.
A diagnosis of AMS is based on a recent rise in altitude, the presence of a headache with the presence of at least 1 other symptom, and a total score of at least 4. Add up the responses to each of the questions of the self-report score.
Self Report Questionnairea are attached as an attachment.
hope this will be useful .

Attached Files

AMS is based on a recent rise in altitude.doc (21.5 KB, 59 views)

PeakXV

Are there any tests that your Dr. can schedule before hand that may pre-determine/predict your ability to sustain the atmospheric conditions that you will encounter?

__________________
We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time.
T.S. Eliot

Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Nick-H

Thanks Dr.

Moving this thread to the Health and Wellbeing forum.

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Nick-H

Thanks Dr.

Moving to Health and wellbeing.

Perhaps we shoudl merge with your other thread?

AvidTrekker

Its a good questionnaire.

Nick, it also deserves another appearance in the "trekking" forum

Is it possible to have two separate links to the same document.. or will you have to literally duplicate it in the trekking forum??

__________________
The Universe is an ellipsoid?... or a Spheroid?? If the sphere smiles... it becomes an ellipse. This IS Creation.

Dr.Barai

thats a good idea!!!

Nick-H

Now there's a hard one... seeing as how duplicate posts aren't allowed.

What to do?

Time to convene an emergency Moderatorial council!

AvidTrekker, maybe I should have put it in the trekking forum right away. I forgot it existed!

If I move it and leave a redirect that should show up here...