The ‘land of high passes’ Leh Ladakh, in the modern day, is one of the most sought-after destinations that finds itself a place in every traveller’s bucket list.
Home to rugged roads with hairpin bends, breathtaking views, and unparalleled adventure, Leh Ladakh surely is an adventurer’s paradise, which is why Leh Ladakh tour packages are quite in demand among travellers who are looking for a thrilling adventure like no other.
The paradisical land, besides being an adventure land, is also an abode to matchless experiences like gazing at the absolutely breathtaking milky way galaxy at the Nubra Valley, watching the serene Pangong lake, one of the most change its colour, and last but definitely not least, the photo-op at Rancho School, the school which has been featured in the Bollywood blockbuster; 3 Idiots. Adventure, thrill, beauty and more, Leh Ladakh has it all.
The land of high passes is the epitome of beauty and all things wonderful, but sometimes, a heaven-like spot such as Leh Ladakh may also cause a bit of distress to your body. After all, no one is accustomed to living in the heavens; hence, being in Ladakh could make you feel uncomfortable. Put simply, travelling in higher altitudes causes breathlessness and headache along with nausea as our body is not accustomed to living in higher altitudes (heavens). This condition in higher altitudes is known as altitude sickness. The condition is common, and many people have experienced acute mountain sickness in Ladakh.
Getting hit by acute mountain sickness in Ladakh is possibly the last thing one would want. Nothing is fun when you suffer from such a sickness. So, if no fun is to be compromised, it is better to be well prepared and be aware with regard to acute mountain sickness while travelling in Ladakh. Though Acute Mountain Sickness is a serious thing, with proper measures and knowledge, you can beat it and enjoy the land, which is also home to some of the best road trips in India. With this being said we’re here to give you everything you need about Acute Mountain Sickness.
Here, you will be provided with enough information about the condition and how to deal with it at a higher altitude. You will also be enlightened about the treatment of the same.
Sudden exposure to higher altitudes with a low-pressure and a lesser amount of oxygen in the air causes hypoxia; it is a condition wherein organs of the body are deprived of the adequate amount of oxygen needed to carry out the vital functions in the body. Similarly, when we travel to Ladakh, we get exposed to a low amount of oxygen and experience acute mountain sickness. Usually, the condition has been reported by people while travelling above 8000 ft. However, people not used to higher altitudes are likely to experience this sickness even at lower heights.
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Acute mountain sickness, abbreviated as AMS is one of the subsets of altitude sickness; the other is chronic mountain sickness. Severe acute mountain sickness can become life-threatening by progressing to pulmonary edema, in which water accumulates in the lungs.
Acute Mountain Sickness is not that rare in Leh Ladakh and can happen to anyone, but this is not just it; AMS also comes in different forms, and it becomes absolutely essential to know about them and the measures required to avoid or treat it.
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Patients with Lung and Heart conditions: As discussed above, high-altitude regions like Leh Ladakh have less oxygen which directly affects your breathing and heart rate. Therefore those with lung and heart diseases will have a hard time breathing, which directly puts pressure on the heart.
People who live at a low altitude: People who usually live at low altitudes usually find it difficult to acclimate to the higher altitudes since their bodies are adapted to the lower altitudes. Therefore those travelling to higher altitude regions like Leh Ladakh are highly suggested to acclimate to the new surroundings before engaging in any activities there. In Leh Ladakh, a minimum of two days acclimatisation period is recommended.
Women who are pregnant: Women who are expecting should avoid travelling to high-altitude regions like Leh Ladakh since exposure to high altitude can lead to a myriad of complications and neonatal morbidity.
The condition usually begins with a state of confusion and tiredness. However, early symptoms of AMS may vary from person to person. We have listed down all possible symptoms of the sickness that will help you prepare well before your trip to Ladakh:
Now that we know what acute mountain sickness in Leh Ladakh would feel like, we can proceed further to know about its prevention and cure.
This section is divided into two parts, prevention and treatment.
Prevention
It is rightly said that ‘prevention is better than cure’ and this goes while dealing with acute mountain sickness too. As nobody would want to waste their time on treating the sickness while they are in Ladakh, preventing it from hitting is the first thing to do.
Avoiding activities which increase the chances of acute mountain sickness and Involvement in activities that reduce its chances are two ways to prevent it. Here is a list of things to avoid acute mountain sickness in Ladakh;
Treatment
Treatment of acute mountain sickness starts with descending. Once you feel AMS hits you, you may descend as soon as possible. It will not allow the condition to become severe and will even make you feel better. Further, there are other tested treatments for AMS as well. You can know about them here:
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To truly enjoy your visit to Ladakh, you must be both aware and prepared for acute mountain sickness. A little carelessness can totally spoil the party for you, and you will remember visiting Ladakh for all the wrong reasons. Therefore, take precautions and enjoy your trip.
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