On the beautiful Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, it attracts countless tourists every year to enjoy the magnificent natural scenery. However, for many tourists, altitude sickness (high reaction) is a problem that cannot be ignored. Ms. Wang is one of those tourists who has suffered the most.
Ms. Wang, a middle-aged woman who loves life and travels. She has always dreamed of being able to set foot on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and feel the unique natural scenery and cultural atmosphere. Finally, on a sunny summer day, she embarked on a journey to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.
However, the moment Ms. Wang stepped on the plateau, her body reacted abnormally. Headaches, breathlessness, insomnia and other symptoms followed, causing her distress and distress. The beautiful journey was no longer pleasant because of altitude sickness. Ms. Wang began to wonder: Why do I have these symptoms? What should I do?
2. The truth about altitude sickness
Faced with the pain and distress caused by altitude sickness, Ms. Wang began to search for answers. She consulted a lot of information and literature on altitude sickness through the Internet, hoping to find a solution to the problem.
During the review, Ms. Wang learned that altitude sickness is a multi-organ and multi-system disease, and its incidence increases with the increase of altitude. The symptoms of altitude sickness are varied, including headache, insomnia, loss of appetite, tiredness, difficulty breathing, etc. These symptoms not only affect the travel experience of tourists, but can also pose a serious threat to their health.
However, what puzzled Ms. Wang was why she had these symptoms on the plateau, as she was usually healthy and had no history of any illness. She began to wonder if there was something wrong with her body.
3. Acetazolamide
Confused and anxious, Ms. Wang decided to seek help from a medical professional. She went to a well-known local hospital and described her symptoms and experience to the doctor in detail.
After listening to Ms. Wang's description, the doctor told her that her symptoms were typical of altitude sickness. The doctor explains: "Altitude sickness is a series of physiological reactions caused by the lack of oxygen in the human body in a high-altitude environment. Due to the thin air and low oxygen content in the plateau area, the human body will make a series of adjustments in order to maintain normal physiological functions. However, these adjustments often lead to discomfort and symptoms. ”
In response to Ms. Wang's condition, the doctor recommended the drug acetazolamide to her. "Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that can reduce fluid retention by inhibiting carbonic anhydrase in the renal tubules, thereby relieving the symptoms of altitude sickness," the doctor told her. At the same time, it can also regulate blood pH, quickly improve oxygenation, and help the body better adapt to the high-altitude environment. ”
Hearing this, Ms. Wang couldn't help but feel a surge of hope in her heart, and she couldn't wait to ask the doctor, "Is this medicine really effective?" Does it have any side effects? ”
The doctor smiled and replied: "Acetazolimide is a drug approved by the FDA for the prevention and treatment of altitude sickness, and its safety and effectiveness have been widely recognized. Of course, there are possible side effects of any drug, but acetazolamide has relatively small side effects and is mostly reversible, and the symptoms usually disappear on their own after stopping the drug. ”
Fourth, the efficacy of acetazolamide
On the advice of her doctor, Ms. Wang started taking acetazolamide. She didn't notice noticeable changes in the first few days, but as time went on, she gradually noticed that her symptoms were starting to ease.
The symptoms of headaches and breathlessness gradually lessened, and her mental state became fuller and more active. She began to be able to enjoy the beauty of the plateau and the pleasures of traveling. She was pleasantly surprised and grateful for all this.
However, just when Ms. Wang thought she had completely gotten rid of altitude sickness, her body had an abnormal reaction again. She began to experience symptoms of paresthesias such as numbness and tingling in her hands and feet, which made her feel very confused and uneasy.
She came to the hospital again to consult with the doctor. The doctor told her that the symptoms were one of the side effects of acetazolamide due to the drug's effects on the nervous system. However, doctors emphasize that most of these side effects are dose-dependent, and as long as the dose is adjusted appropriately or the drug is stopped, the symptoms will go away on their own.
On the advice of her doctor, Ms. Wang began to reduce the dose of acetazolamide and watched her body react. Sure enough, it wasn't long before her symptoms faded away, and she regained her health and vitality again.
5. A comprehensive understanding of acetazolamide and altitude sickness
Through Ms. Wang's experience, it is not difficult to find that acetazolamide has a certain efficacy in the prevention and treatment of altitude sickness. But as a drug, it also has certain side effects and precautions. Next, we will popularize the knowledge of relevant drugs and diseases from the perspective of doctors.
1. Pharmacological mechanism of acetazolamide
Acetazolamide reduces the reabsorption of bicarbonate and sodium ions by inhibiting carbonic anhydrase in the renal tubules, thereby producing a diuretic effect and alleviating fluid retention. At the same time, it can also reduce the concentration of [HCO3-] in the blood, making the blood slightly acidic, and counteracting the blood hypoalkalinity caused by hypoxia-induced hyperventilation in the plateau area. In addition, acetazolamide can also cause pulmonary vasodilation through other pathways, reducing the incidence of high-altitude pulmonary edema.
2. How to use acetazolamide
Prophylaxis with acetazolamide is highly recommended for travelers who are ascending to high altitudes and are at moderate or high risk of altitude sickness. In general, it should be started 1 day before the ascent and continued on the day of the ascent. Preventive medication can be stopped by staying for 2 days after reaching the highest altitude. However, if the ascent rate is fast or you need to stay in the plateau area for a long time, you should continue to take it for a period of time after reaching the target altitude.
3. Precautions for medication in special populations
Pregnant and lactating women need to be cautious when using acetazolamide. Because acetazolamide contains sulfonamide structure, it cannot be used by people who are allergic to sulfonamides. In addition, because acetazolamide may cause some side effects, such as numbness, tingling in the hands and feet, and other paresthesias, it is necessary to closely observe your own physical reactions during use, and if you have severe discomfort or allergic reactions, you should seek medical attention in time.
4. Other prevention and treatment methods for altitude sickness
In addition to medication, there are a number of other ways to prevent altitude sickness. The first is a planned, strategic and slow adaptation to altitude, i.e., a phased ascent. It is possible to stay at moderate altitude for a few days before moving into higher altitudes to reduce the risk of altitude sickness. This is followed by oxygen therapy, which includes inhaled oxygen or a portable hyperbaric chamber. When altitude sickness occurs, oxygen can quickly relieve symptoms and improve oxygenation. Finally, in addition to acetazolamide, xexamethasone, and nifedipine, drugs can also be used to treat altitude sickness, but they need to be used under the guidance of a doctor.
VI. Conclusion
It is not difficult to find that acetazolamide, as an FDA-approved drug for the prevention and treatment of altitude sickness, has certain efficacy and safety. However, we also need to pay attention to the side effects and precautions of the drug during use to ensure our own health and safety.
At the same time, we should also realize that altitude sickness is a common altitude sickness, as long as we take the right prevention and treatment methods, we can effectively avoid the troubles and harms it brings