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How to recover from altitude sickness?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I have got really bad mountain (altitude) sickness before five days. They put me on oxygen and gave me a pill at the airport. I traveled back to sea level and seemed to be recovering. I traveled in a car the last couple of days, and I am now with very little medical support. I have weird chest and stomach pains that were similar to when I got altitude sickness. I do not want to eat. I did have some chicken, rice and water an hour ago to get some energy. I think I got the second stage HACE or HAPE. My face is not swollen. I am worried about my chest and stomach pains. What to do?
Answered by Dr. Sameer Kumar

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sameer Kumar is a highly qualified Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Infertility specialist with more than two decades of clinical experience. He has completed his postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynecology and also specializes in infertility management. Dr. Kumar is dedicated to women’s health, offering expert care in pregnancy, reproductive health, and fertility treatments. His patient-centered approach combines medical expertise with compassionate support to ensure the best outcomes for his patients. Note: If you don't want go opt for IVF and spend lakhs, then you must contact me as i specialize in medical infertility treatment for both male and female. Results have been really encouraging and statistics speak for itself, about 2000 couples helped and avoided IVF.

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Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

  1. The picture does appear to be that of HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema). The presence of a headache, difficulty in breathing, chest heaviness, irritability, and stomach pains are initial symptoms of altitude sickness.
  2. You have rightly been given oxygen and brought down to a lower altitude, which balances the internal and external pressures.
  3. You should be placed on diuretics like Acetazolamide to allow for better recovery. Increase your water intake to 12 to 16 cups of water a day, and you need to rest for four hours to acclimatize at a lower altitude now.
  4. You must get an X-ray chest done to rule out pulmonary edema to establish the diagnosis. As there does not seem any incoordination or dizziness accompanied, then HACE (high altitude cerebral edema) seems unlikely. Just take oxygen, rest, and medications.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At February 23, 2017
Reviewed At June 15, 2023

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sameer Kumar is a highly qualified Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Infertility specialist with more than two decades of clinical experience. He has completed his postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynecology and also specializes in infertility management. Dr. Kumar is dedicated to women’s health, offering expert care in pregnancy, reproductive health, and fertility treatments. His patient-centered approach combines medical expertise with compassionate support to ensure the best outcomes for his patients. Note: If you don't want go opt for IVF and spend lakhs, then you must contact me as i specialize in medical infertility treatment for both male and female. Results have been really encouraging and statistics speak for itself, about 2000 couples helped and avoided IVF.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Sameer Kumar
Dr. Sameer Kumar

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Consult this doctor

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sameer Kumar is a highly qualified Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Infertility specialist with more than two decades of clinical experience. He has completed his postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynecology and also specializes in infertility management. Dr. Kumar is dedicated to women’s health, offering expert care in pregnancy, reproductive health, and fertility treatments. His patient-centered approach combines medical expertise with compassionate support to ensure the best outcomes for his patients. Note: If you don't want go opt for IVF and spend lakhs, then you must contact me as i specialize in medical infertility treatment for both male and female. Results have been really encouraging and statistics speak for itself, about 2000 couples helped and avoided IVF.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
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