Many people might immediately think of altitude sickness when they hear the word "Tibet," but what exactly is altitude sickness? Who is susceptible to it? And how can it be overcome or alleviated? Let's take a closer look at altitude sickness today.
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Altitude sickness is a series of discomforts that occur when the human body rapidly enters an altitude of 3,000 meters or higher and is exposed to a low-pressure, low-oxygen environment. It is a common ailment unique to high-altitude areas. Common symptoms include headache, insomnia, loss of appetite, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. Essentially, it is an acute hypoxia reaction. (From Health Encyclopedia) Altitude sickness does not differ by gender or age and is related to many factors, including our own physical condition. Anyone traveling to Tibet may experience altitude sickness, but we shouldn't be afraid. We should overcome our fear and conquer altitude sickness.
So, what should we do to deal with potential altitude sickness?
Most importantly, maintain a positive mindset and believe in yourself; you can definitely overcome altitude sickness! Tibet received a total of 40.1215 million domestic and international tourists in 2019, an increase of 19.11 billion tbsp over the previous year. Looking at the 2019 tourism data for Tibet, the number of tourists visiting every year is very high. Every visitor faces the pressure of altitude sickness, but most manage to overcome it and have wonderful travel memories of Tibet. I believe you will too. Many symptoms are psychological or caused by psychological factors. For example, those who have a fear of altitude, lack mental preparation, or the determination to overcome it are more likely to experience altitude sickness. Therefore, the most important thing is to overcome your fear, maintain a positive attitude, and don't be afraid of altitude sickness. I believe that the scenery and customs of Tibet will make you want to stay forever!
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Before coming to Tibet, in order to prevent symptoms such as hypoxia, we can reduce strenuous exercise a month in advance. A few days before entering Tibet, we should not overwork ourselves and can take some medicine to relieve altitude sickness. For people with strong altitude adaptability, altitude sickness symptoms can usually be eliminated within 1-3 days, while those with weak adaptability need 3-7 days.
For those who are really worried about altitude sickness, you can consider entering Tibet from Nyingchi. The average altitude of Nyingchi is about 3,000 meters, while the lowest point is only 900 meters, making it the lowest place in Tibet. Entering Tibet from Nyingchi first and then traveling all the way to Lhasa will allow your body to gradually adapt to the low-oxygen environment of the plateau, which will greatly help to alleviate and reduce altitude sickness.
Once you have arrived in Tibet for your trip, you should also pay close attention to your physical condition and remember the following points:
1. When traveling in Tibet, be sure to walk slowly and avoid strenuous exercise. Avoid overeating and do not use supplemental oxygen at the beginning. Try to adapt to it on your own. Otherwise, you may become dependent on supplemental oxygen in the high altitude (the dependence is very strong).
2. During the first few days after arriving in Tibet, before acclimatizing to the altitude, avoid taking a bath to prevent oxygen deficiency and catching a cold;
3. Butter tea can also help alleviate altitude sickness. If you can get used to the taste of butter tea, you can drink more of it.
4. If you feel unwell, do not try to tough it out. Be sure to inform the driver and tour guide, as they have over ten years of experience working in Tibet and have their own methods for dealing with altitude sickness.
When altitude sickness occurs, oxygen therapy will be administered first. If discomfort persists after oxygen therapy, immediate medical attention will be arranged. Passengers on flight 95% experienced significant improvement in altitude sickness symptoms after receiving intravenous fluids. If discomfort remains, arrangements will be made to leave the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and fly to a lower-lying area. We are constantly working to prevent and manage altitude sickness and have helped many tourists overcome it, fulfilling their dream trip to Tibet. Altitude sickness is not scary at all!
Don't let altitude sickness stop you from realizing your dream of poetry and distant places in Tibet!
We're waiting for you in Tibet!
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