Altitude Sickness Treatment in India

Krishna Nair, a 52-year-old accountant from...

Krishna Nair, a 52-year-old accountant from Chennai, was a first-time trekker. An avid photographer, he had saved for years to visit Ladakh. On the second day of his trek to 14,000 feet, he developed a throbbing headache, nausea, and profound fatigue. He dismissed it as exhaustion, but by evening, he was dizzy and struggling to catch his breath. His guide recognized the signs and arranged an emergency descent. At the Leh hospital, the internal medicine doctor diagnosed him with Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). The doctor recommended immediate oxygen therapy, rest at a lower altitude, and prescribed Acetazolamide to help his body acclimatize. Krishna spent 24 hours on oxygen, feeling the fog in his head slowly lift. After two days of rest in Leh (11,500 ft), his symptoms resolved completely. Emotionally, he was initially terrified and embarrassed, feeling he had failed his dream trip. Post-recovery, his fear transformed into deep respect for the mountains. He learned to listen to his body, took acclimatization seriously, and successfully completed a modified, lower-altitude photography tour a week later, capturing stunning images with a newfound sense of humility and accomplishment.