Andes Altitude sickness

Soroche
One of the things that happen to most people when the first times arrives to
high places like the Peruvian Andes or around Cusco city as well in different
walks (Treks) of adventure; one it is exposed to low oxygenation is when a
person is getting sick of Soroche. Most people around the world live near the
coast or low sea levels; Kondor Path has some recommendations for an
enjoyable holiday in these beautiful places.
Against altitude sickness:

Arriving by plane in the Andes: avoid any heavy meal and / or plentiful,
avoid too Pisco sour, Cusquea beer, soft drinks, Coca Cola, coffee,
cigarettes.
Carry Glucose Cora mina tablets that can be purchased without a
prescription at any pharmacy. Put one tablet in your mouth and feel
rapid improvement.
It should be taken daily for 2 to 3 liters of natural water to maintain
proper hydration.
You must maintain a high-energy light diet and high carbohydrate, fatfree and small amounts several times a day. Avoid exotic food to which
the body is not accustomed.
After arriving in the city of Cusco, you must rest and sleep as long as
possible.
We recommend taking a hot coca tea with enough coca leaves and a few
drops of lemon.
Candies or sweets made of coca leaf are excellent.
Always take a cup of hot lemon tea after meals and at night, it is
advisable to be a cup of tea of chamomile or anise.
Coca tea, sweets, biscuits, chocolates made with coca leaf is very useful
during the day; avoid eating them before bed because if not you cannot
sleep.

Altitude and Oxygen Therapy

A disease occurs when you ascend to greater heights of 2000 M / 6,561 Ft.
whose manifestations acute, sub-acute and chronic are caused by the lack of
sufficient time for acclimatization, increased physical activity and varying
degrees of health.
There are three types of altitude sickness:

Acute Mountain Sickness.

Sub-acute mountain.
Chronic disease of the mountains (Monge's disease)

Acute Mountain Sickness

Physiological basis of production:

When the pressure decreases to ascend atmospheric oxygen that produces a
response of the organism to compensate for this decrease in oxygen in the
following manner:

Increased heart rate

Increased respiratory rate
Redistribution preferential circulation to brain, heart and kidneys.

Despite these mechanisms, sometimes the symptoms are present:

Symptoms
The most common are:

Tachycardia
Tachypnea
Headache
Asthenia
Anorexia
Bloating
Vertigo
Nausea and vomiting
Insomnia
Oliguria
Dyspepsia

There are warning signs that indicate worsening of the table:

Resting heart rate greater than 110/min

Respiratory rate at rest than 24/min
Lower Oliguria 700 cc in 24 hours.
There are three degrees of altitude sickness:
Mild: Where are mainly headache nausea and vomiting not very intense,
and tachycardia and tachypnea?
Moderate. That is the intensification of symptoms reported and the
appearance of others.
Grave: In presenting with severe pulmonary edema, cardiorespiratory
severe cerebral edema may even produce important point.

Prophylaxis (prevention):
The following averages may prevent its onset:

Climate (ascent 2000 m / day

Use of acetazolamide 250 mg every 12 hours from the day before the
climb.

Treatment:

Adequate hydration 1000 ml required per 1000 meters of climbing

Rest
Oxygen therapy should be instituted initially 4-6 liters / min oxygen for
15-30 min, which can continue to 2-4 liters / min if still does not yield the
acute symptoms.
Acetazolamide 250 g every 8 hours for 3-4 days.

Simethicone for meteorism.

If the disease gets worse quickly, lowering the patient indication is two lower
levels.