Altitude Mountain Sickness

coldpaw

Anyone know if AMS is more likely if you have an inner ear problem or if it is linked to that, balance and all

Also does anyone know if a mosquito net bought 6 tears ago but never opened is still good to use?

Apologies if this is in the wrong place.

lg123

i dont think the ears have much/anything to do with AMS, some people are susceptible and others are not as bad, its more a blood/lung issue. i know i am susceptible.
i would be more concerned as to what impact the lower pressures/temperature may have on the ear problem.

re the mozzie net, just open it up and see if the net has deteriorated. it should be fine if it hasnt been stored in some unusuall place like the hot press or damp shed.....

-K2-

Have a read of this:

http://www.amazon.com/Altitude-Illness-Prevention-Treatment-Mountaineers/dp/0898866855

Evil Phil

AMS is caused by hypoxia, which is a lack of oxygen in the blood. Really the only way to combat it is to ascend at a comfortable pace.

Sev

I don't see any reason why AMS should be linked to inner ear problems/balance. But as every forum charter seems to say, this is not a medical board, and I'm not a doctor, so take any advice you get here with a pinch of salt.

As for the mosquito net. Many commercial models are impregnated with a permethrin treatment. My understanding is that this is not so much an insect repellent as an insecticide. It wears off with use, and there are kits you can buy that will reinvigorate the permethrin treatment. However if it has never been used, I would expect the permethrin treatment to be still intact.

In any case, the permethrin treatment is just an optional addition. The main purpose of the mosquito net is to keep mosquitoes out. And provided the net has no holes in it (which is very likely since it has never been used,) then it should do it's job.

Also, this thread is surely in the right forum.