![]() The onset of cerebral oedema can be very quick. This starts off by causing mild headaches but if continues leads to pressure on the brain, complete disorientation and eventually coma and death. Cerebral oedemaĪs a result of the reduction in air pressure, fluid from the brain leaks into the air cavities between the skull and the brain. If your oxygen saturation drops below 80% we consider this is serious and if it drops below 75% you will be asked to descend. Below is a graph which shows the normal reduction in oxygen saturation levels that occur at altitude. ![]() Bigger falls can impair mental functions and have serious adverse effects. Mild reductions in oxygen saturation will cause you to feel breathless and tired. With less actual air in each breath, the amount of oxygen in the blood reduces. This drop in pressure has three major effects. At 5000m the air pressure is reduced to 55% of that at sea level and at 6000m it is down to 49%. AMS is brought on by changes in the body caused by the reduction in air pressure at altitude. ![]() Even a very fit person, however, is still very likely to develop AMS if they trek to altitudes above 3500m without some days spent acclimatising or they walk too quickly.Īltitude sickness can occur in some people as low as 8,000 feet (2,400 metres), but serious symptoms do not usually occur until over 12,000 feet (3,700m). Tolerance to altitude varies greatly amongst individuals, but a fit person who does not go too fast will not strain their cardiovascular system as much as an unfit person for the same amount of exercise and will, therefore, be at a lower risk of developing AMS. Altitude sickness (AMS) is a serious medical condition brought on by travelling too quickly to altitude, and/or performing physical exercise at altitude when unacclimatised.
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