Altitude Sickness in Puno

Altitude Sickness in Puno

Most people experience altitude sickness when they arrive at high places like the Peruvian Andes or around Puno. Upon reaching these altitudes, a person may feel affected by Soroche due to low oxygen levels. Most people worldwide live near the coast or at sea level, so it’s important to keep in mind some recommendations to enjoy a pleasant vacation in this beautiful region.

Tips Against Altitude Sickness:

1. When arriving to Puno, avoid heavy or abundant meals, as well as pisco sour, Cusqueña beer, soft drinks, coffee, and cigarettes.
2. Carry glucose tablets, which can be purchased without a prescription at any pharmacy. Place one tablet in your mouth and you will feel rapid improvement.
3. Maintain proper hydration; you should drink 2 to 3 liters of natural water daily.
4. Consume a light, high-energy diet, including small amounts of low-fat, high-carbohydrate foods several times a day. Avoid exotic foods that your body may not be accustomed to.
5. After arriving in Puno, rest and sleep as much as possible.
6. It is recommended to drink hot coca tea with plenty of coca leaves and a few drops of lemon.
7. Candies or sweets made from coca leaves are excellent.
8. Always have a cup of hot lemon tea after meals, and at night, it’s advisable to drink chamomile or anise tea.
9. Coca tea, sweets, biscuits, and chocolates made with coca leaves are beneficial during the day; avoid eating them before bed as they can interfere with sleep.

Oxygen Therapy and Altitude

Altitude sickness occurs when ascending to higher altitudes, typically above 2000 m / 6,561 ft. Acute, subacute, and chronic manifestations are caused by insufficient time for acclimatization, increased physical activity, and varying degrees of health.

There are three types of altitude sickness:

1. Acute Mountain Sickness.
2. Sub-acute Mountain Sickness.
3. Chronic Mountain Disease (Monge’s Disease).

Acute Mountain Sickness

Physiological Basis of Production:

When pressure decreases during ascent, atmospheric oxygen produces a response in the body to compensate for this decrease in oxygen in the following ways:

1. Increased heart rate.
2. Increased respiratory rate.
3. Redistribution of preferential circulation to the brain, heart, and kidneys.

Despite these mechanisms, symptoms may still present:

Symptoms of soroche in  Puno

The most common symptoms are:

1. Tachycardia.
2. Tachypnea.
3. Headache.
4. Asthenia.
5. Anorexia.
6. Bloating.
7. Vertigo.
8. Nausea and vomiting.
9. Insomnia.
10. Oliguria.
11. Dyspepsia.

Warning signs that indicate worsening:

1. Resting heart rate greater than 110/min.
2. Resting respiratory rate greater than 24/min.
3. Oliguria less than 700 cc in 24 hours.
4. There are three degrees of altitude sickness:
5. Mild: Where the main symptoms are headache, nausea, and vomiting. They are not very intense, along with tachycardia and tachypnea.
6. Moderate: Intensification of reported symptoms and the appearance of others.
7. Severe: Presentation of severe pulmonary edema, severe cerebral edema that can produce a vital point.

Prophylaxis (Prevention):

The following measures may prevent its onset:

• Acclimatization (ascent of 2000 m/day).
• Use acetazolamide 250 mg every 12 hours from the day before the ascent.

Treatment:

1. Proper hydration; 1000 ml is required for every 1000 meters of climbing.
2. Rest.
3. Oxygen therapy should initially be instituted at 4-6 liters/min for 15-30 minutes, continuing to 2-4 liters/min if acute symptoms do not improve.
4. Acetazolamide 250 mg every 8 hours for 3-4 days.

Simethicone for bloating.

If the disease worsens rapidly, the patient’s indication is to reduce to two lower levels.