Reverse Altitude Sickness: Symptoms, Cure, Prevention & More

Millions make their way to Nepal to ultimately divulge in the adventurous trail of Himalayas. The majestic as well as a giant range of Himalayas, with several tallest mountains is the center of attraction for the majority number of visitors of Nepal. Over the years, Nepal has established itself as the most happening place for trekking and mountaineering.

However, as excited as you can be regarding your adventure to scale these incredible mountains, it is important to know what is the cost you are paying for it. From your physical fitness to the risk associating in your journey, if you don’t take heed of these factors, then they can result in a serious accident while en route.

Altitude sickness is one of the major things anyone must consider while trekking in Nepal. As you scale higher, the landscape changes so do the weather and environment around you, and it can directly affect you. You will certainly go through this matter once you start inquiring about trekking in Nepal. 

Although the majority might know what altitude sickness is, there is something called “reverse altitude sickness” as well. What these two terms imply, although they seem to mean the same? – let us found out.

What is Reverse Altitude Sickness? 

To put it in a simpler term, when someone from high altitude areas descend to sea level, they might experience some health hazards while adjusting, which is reverse altitude sickness.

When a person goes to a lower altitude region from high altitude, your blood pressure is supposed to normalize. As your body produces more red blood cells at high altitude to compensate for thinner (less oxygen) air, when you go towards sea level with more red blood cells, your body transports oxygen more efficiently.

But, it is not always the same case. Sometimes, your body refuses this abrupt environmental changes, especially if you have been to a high altitude for a long time. So, when people get to the lower area, they face the same altitude symptoms due to increased blood pressure. 

Reverse Altitude sickness can be a long-existing condition resulting from changes in altitude and saturation of oxygen in the atmosphere. People who are living in higher altitude are bound to experience reverse altitude sickness if they are moving quickly to places of lower altitude.

Mainly, the people living in the mountain region have higher chances of reverse altitude sickness. But as trekkers and mountaineers spend more than a week-long of time in extreme altitude, some symptoms of reverse altitude sickness is deemed come. 

How is Reverse Altitude Sickness any different from Altitude Sickness?

Although we might not have experienced it, we are quite familiar with what altitude sickness is. It is also called mountain sickness when negative health effects starts to show as a result of climbing or walking to a higher elevation. 

As the amount of oxygen is relatively low in high altitude, the body doesn’t get enough time to adapt in lower air pressure and lower oxygen level.

The symptoms you face during reverse altitude sickness is the same as altitude sickness, and the cure is the same too; so the difference in these two terms is the general understanding of the scenario.

Also, remember that no matter your age or physical fitness, the risk of getting altitude sickness is the same.

What are the Reverse Altitude Sickness symptoms?

When you are used to with the high altitude area and descend to sea level area, your body starts feeling uncomfortable and doesn’t get enough oxygen; now you start breathing faster than the normal pace. It ultimately results in an increase in your blood pressure.

You will start experiencing the symptoms when you are around 14,000 feet elevation and descending without enough rest. Following are the symptoms, you might go at the first stage of reverse altitude symptoms as your body is trying to fit into the environment of the lower region.

-Headache

-Dizziness

-Shortness of breath

-Insomnia

-Fatigue

-Nausea

-Frequent urination

The interesting thing about reverse altitude sickness is anyone who has a previous history of sickness is more vulnerable to it. The symptoms can get more serious in some cases, and that severe case is called Low Altitude Cerebral Edema. In the case of the extreme situation on reverse altitude sickness, the following symptoms occur.

-Chest tightness and/or fullness

-Heavy coughs

-Gray/blue lips and fingernails

-Difficulty in breathing

-Rattling and gurgling while breathing

-Extreme fatigue

What is the danger of Reverse Altitude Sickness?

Reverse Altitude sickness is obviously dangerous, and ignoring it will jeopardize the situation even more. When your body is facing a lack of oxygen and an increase in blood pressure, fluid may leak through blood vessels and into the brain, which can result in swelling.

If you keep on being indifferent, then it can result casualty as well. In case if anyone is experiencing this symptom, better ascended by 2,000 feet immediately. Skin might start turning blue, and breathing will be even more difficult. 

So, yes, reverse altitude sickness is very dangerous that can directly threat on your life. 

You better get hospitalized or consult with a doctor before descending any further. You can easily find medicines like Acetazolamide and Dexamethasone that will easily keep your condition in check and stabilize your flow pattern, especially of your lungs.

The best way to avoid reverse altitude sickness is to gather enough information and plan your itinerary as per it. Acclimatization is the best tip for reverse altitude sickness that gives your body time to adjust.

How to prevent Reverse Altitude Sickness?

The only way to prevent reverse altitude sickness is to give your body enough time to adjust in a newly found environment. Going through a small pace reduces the chances of developing any form of altitude sickness.

No all the person can make the adjustment at the same pace. Our bodies work differently. Therefore, we adapt differently. Here are some helpful tips to keep you safe from the effects of reverse altitude sickness.

Drink Enough Water

Staying hydrated is one of the best things to do to prevent reverse altitude sickness. Try drinking 4 to 6 liters of water in a day. Better take a water bottle with you and keep on drinking and refilling on the way.

Along with drinking enough water, avoid smoking or consuming any alcohol while moving from high altitude places.

Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough rest relaxes your body, it helps you cope in the new environment. As you journey down, don’t descend for more than 300 meters and at night sleep early.

Have a low-calorie diet

What you eat also determines how vulnerable you can be to reverse altitude sickness. Having a low-calorie diet doesn’t wear you out very soon and give you the energy to move forward.

Stay at sea level

If you face reverse altitude sickness, they always learn to stay at sea level environment until the symptoms go away completely.

What the medicines for Reverse Altitude Sickness?

The condition of reverse altitude sickness is not something you can help. So, if you happen to face reverse altitude sickness, even after following the altitude tips, here are some medicines that will help you get back in the normal condition in a short period.

-Dexamethasone helps to reduce the swelling of the brain when reverse altitude sickness causes edema.

-Acetazolamide helps you correct your breathing problems, ensuring the flow of oxygen is evenly distributed throughout your body part.

-You can take aspirin for mild headaches.

Or you can also for the Nepali way of treating altitude sickness. Use of garlic and cloves are very popular in Nepal for both altitude sickness and reverse altitude sickness. It helps the flow of blood inside the blood vessels by thinning the blood. Include these two ingredients on your diet and keep on having bite occasionally. But do not completely believe that they will prevent reverse altitude sickness, because they are only for minor symptoms.

Also, as per the study held in 2012 on altitude sickness, taking 600 milligrams of Ibuprofen three times in a day will decrease any severity and incidence of altitude sickness. 

If you have some kind of medical conditions, do consult with your doctor and make sure it is safe and then only take reverse altitude sickness medicines.

If a person has lung or heart disease, they need constant monitoring because of a combination of these diseases with elevated blood pressure or lack of oxygen can be fatal.