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Altitude Illness: Prevention & Treatment
Stay healthy at high heights with this pocket guide?now updated with the most current information on preparing for and adapting to altitude.·Updated guidelines for people going to altitude (heights above 7,000 feet) with pre-existing health conditions such as heart conditions, diabetes, and cancer·A handy glossary and easy-to-read tables covering symptoms and signs, altitude illness, and high altitude drugs ·Case studies of real situations and a question-and-answer section help readers better understand general issues about altitude and its effects, and moreThis new edition provides the latest information on prevention and treatment of altitude illness?from preparing for altitude to recognizing and treating the symptoms of acute mountain sickness, including high altitude pulmonary and cerebral edemas. Suited for both novice and seasoned hikers, climbers, trekkers, and skiers, Altitude Illness, 2nd Edition, also includes an updated examination of how altitude interacts with certain drugs, a new section on using the web to find more information about altitude illness, and much more.
162 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 14, 2016
I picked this book up after my third, and most recent, trek at high altitude. On each trek, I felt the altitude at some point along the trail, but the most troubling and persistent issue for me has been sleep disruption—what I learned in the book was called periodic breathing. That was one of several useful lessons I learned from this book.
Altitude illness is an odd affliction. There’s a clear logic to what is happening inside your body. There’s a lack of sufficient oxygen to get said oxygen distributed throughout your body by way of your body’s business as usual operations. Homeostasis is out of whack, and the body does a number of things at once to rectify the problem. Because of this, in practice the ailment is actually a range of disparate illnesses that can seem to act in an arbitrary manner. Different people feel altitude in different ways. Some have no problems if they acclimate a few days, but others hit a ceiling beyond which they can’t travel no matter what. One’s level of fitness has little to do with how well on acclimatizes. For some, like myself, it can be a nuisance, but for others it can turn into a threat to survival in a flash.
This book is a concise introduction to altitude illness that covers: acclimatization / adaptation [ch. 1], the various forms of altitude illness [ch. 2], prevention [ch. 3], diagnosis [ch. 4], treatment [ch. 5], the effects of altitude given common preexisting conditions [ch.6], and a guide to preparing for a high altitude jaunt [ch.7.] In addition to the chapters mentioned above, there are two final chapters that make for nice features. Chapter 8 presents case studies of various true instances of altitude afflictions. The cases not only make for interesting reading, but also may help one connect the dots as to what is happening with oneself or someone in one’s party. The last chapter is a frequently asked questions (FAQ) collection that helps to summarize and restate issues addressed in the main chapters. The FAQ may also help one find needed information more quickly, rather than having to flip through the entire book while someone is having trouble.
There are some graphics in the book. Most of the graphics are photos of high or extreme elevation environments—and mostly the latter. (fyi: The book calls 12,000 – 18,000 feet [3660m to 5490m] high altitude, and over 18,000ft [5490m] is extreme altitude.) There are also several tables and a line drawing or two. There’s a short bibliographic section that is nicely divided into two sections, one for health care professionals and the other for lay readers.
I found this guide to be useful and well-presented. It’s well organized, concise, and easy to navigate (bullet points are frequently used to good effect.) This is the kind of book that is meant to help you get to the information you need quickly. There’s not a lot of use of the narrative approach beyond the case study chapter and a few anecdotes in the chapters to liven the discussion. I don’t mean to make is sound dry, but it’s a book with a purpose and that purpose isn’t entertainment. The lack of extraneous information and the keeping of blocks of text small is a good idea for this kind of guide. Having said all that, it’s quite readable by a layman. Jargon is explained and there is a glossary. (There are only a few medical terms—e.g. edema (fluid build-up), ataxia (incoordination), and syncope (fainting)that one needs to be concerned with repeatedly.)
If you will be traveling at altitude (and remember that may not be high or extreme elevations, some people have problems at as low as 6000ft [1800m.]) I’d highly recommend this book. I’d further recommend one re-read it on subsequent high elevation travels. It’s a short book and is broken up into tight subsections.
Altitude illness is an odd affliction. There’s a clear logic to what is happening inside your body. There’s a lack of sufficient oxygen to get said oxygen distributed throughout your body by way of your body’s business as usual operations. Homeostasis is out of whack, and the body does a number of things at once to rectify the problem. Because of this, in practice the ailment is actually a range of disparate illnesses that can seem to act in an arbitrary manner. Different people feel altitude in different ways. Some have no problems if they acclimate a few days, but others hit a ceiling beyond which they can’t travel no matter what. One’s level of fitness has little to do with how well on acclimatizes. For some, like myself, it can be a nuisance, but for others it can turn into a threat to survival in a flash.
This book is a concise introduction to altitude illness that covers: acclimatization / adaptation [ch. 1], the various forms of altitude illness [ch. 2], prevention [ch. 3], diagnosis [ch. 4], treatment [ch. 5], the effects of altitude given common preexisting conditions [ch.6], and a guide to preparing for a high altitude jaunt [ch.7.] In addition to the chapters mentioned above, there are two final chapters that make for nice features. Chapter 8 presents case studies of various true instances of altitude afflictions. The cases not only make for interesting reading, but also may help one connect the dots as to what is happening with oneself or someone in one’s party. The last chapter is a frequently asked questions (FAQ) collection that helps to summarize and restate issues addressed in the main chapters. The FAQ may also help one find needed information more quickly, rather than having to flip through the entire book while someone is having trouble.
There are some graphics in the book. Most of the graphics are photos of high or extreme elevation environments—and mostly the latter. (fyi: The book calls 12,000 – 18,000 feet [3660m to 5490m] high altitude, and over 18,000ft [5490m] is extreme altitude.) There are also several tables and a line drawing or two. There’s a short bibliographic section that is nicely divided into two sections, one for health care professionals and the other for lay readers.
I found this guide to be useful and well-presented. It’s well organized, concise, and easy to navigate (bullet points are frequently used to good effect.) This is the kind of book that is meant to help you get to the information you need quickly. There’s not a lot of use of the narrative approach beyond the case study chapter and a few anecdotes in the chapters to liven the discussion. I don’t mean to make is sound dry, but it’s a book with a purpose and that purpose isn’t entertainment. The lack of extraneous information and the keeping of blocks of text small is a good idea for this kind of guide. Having said all that, it’s quite readable by a layman. Jargon is explained and there is a glossary. (There are only a few medical terms—e.g. edema (fluid build-up), ataxia (incoordination), and syncope (fainting)that one needs to be concerned with repeatedly.)
If you will be traveling at altitude (and remember that may not be high or extreme elevations, some people have problems at as low as 6000ft [1800m.]) I’d highly recommend this book. I’d further recommend one re-read it on subsequent high elevation travels. It’s a short book and is broken up into tight subsections.
January 12, 2020
Altitude illness is the body‘s reaction to being at extreme altitudes. Pretty much anything over 8000 feet. The air is thinner and it’s harder to breathe. This book discusses what high-altitude illness is how to diagnose it and what to do about it. It is written for the lay person and for the medical professional. The book is easy to understand. It explains the symptomology a high-altitude illness. It gives information on drugs for the treatment of high altitude illness. It pays little attention to exercise or preparation for high altitude. Apparently exercise and physical fitness does not prevent altitude sickness.
There is a section on preparing for being at high altitude under specific situations, and has case studies of People who have been on specific mountains. I found these case studies really informative. The basic message is lose weight and talk with your doctor if you have diabetes or a heart condition.
I am planning on going to the Nepal for vacation. I know that is at about 11,000 feet high. I’ve been to La Paz Bolivia which is at 12,000 feet. I was in my 30’s and great deal lighter. I’m much older now and need to prepare myself for the journey ahead.
The author includes a glossary and an index. There are several tables that are handy for checking on symptoms and giving advice to treat high altitude sickness. Overall I thought the book was a good first step for investigating this topic.
April 18, 2023
Altitude Illness: Prevention & Treatment is a no-nonsense manual to the difficulties the human body faces when ascending to high altitudes. Bezruchka covers the signs and symptoms of altitude sickness, treatment options, and some case studies.
For anyone planning to do some serious mountain climbing, or even activity at higher altitudes, the information here might be extremely helpful. The first chapter covers the body's adaptation to high altitude, such as sleep changes, blood thickening, pulse rate, and acclimatization. The second describes various types of altitude sickness, such as AMS (acute mountain sickness), HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema), and HACE( high altitude cerebral edema). Chapter 3, 4, and 5 are prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Chapter 6 covers how you might deal with pre-existing health conditions, and the final chapter is a few case studies of climbers who encountered the altitude issues covered here.
There are two things that would have been nice to add to this text. A number of handy drugs were mentioned here, such as acetazolamide, nifedipine, and dexamethasone, but how to obtain them was not. Second, a one or two page summary of the signs, symptoms, and treatment would be a valuable tool to have during any high altitude activity.
For anyone planning to do some serious mountain climbing, or even activity at higher altitudes, the information here might be extremely helpful. The first chapter covers the body's adaptation to high altitude, such as sleep changes, blood thickening, pulse rate, and acclimatization. The second describes various types of altitude sickness, such as AMS (acute mountain sickness), HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema), and HACE( high altitude cerebral edema). Chapter 3, 4, and 5 are prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Chapter 6 covers how you might deal with pre-existing health conditions, and the final chapter is a few case studies of climbers who encountered the altitude issues covered here.
There are two things that would have been nice to add to this text. A number of handy drugs were mentioned here, such as acetazolamide, nifedipine, and dexamethasone, but how to obtain them was not. Second, a one or two page summary of the signs, symptoms, and treatment would be a valuable tool to have during any high altitude activity.
January 6, 2013
This is a must read if you are a mountaineer. It gives great insights into altitude sickness and how to look for it.
August 9, 2016
Well worth reading for any propective mountaineer as well as those looking to climb to higher altitudes...
July 13, 2015
Very informative in advance of a Kilimanjaro climb.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews