Getting To Know Acute Mountain Sickness, A High Disease That Kills Climbers In Carstensz
The death of two climbers at Puncak Carstensz Pyramid in Mimika Regency, Central Papua, is currently in the spotlight. Both died from hypothermia and are also said to have experienced Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
So, what is AMS? Quoted from Harvard Health, Acute Mountain Sickness or acute mountain disease is the most common type of height disease. There are three types of this disease, namely llness syndrome or height disease syndrome, high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE).
AMS usually attacks people who start climbing near sea level and climb up to 4,200 meters high, without scheduling enough rest time. It is known that the Carstenz Peak is one of the high mountain peaks in Indonesia, with a height of 4,884 meters above sea level (mastl).
The plateau can expose climbers to cold air, low humidity, increase in ultraviolet radiation, and decrease in air pressure, all of which can cause various health problems. However, the biggest concern of this disease is that hypoxia or oxygen levels in the body decrease.
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Some of the symptoms that climbers can experience due to AMS are anorexia, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. Symptoms usually appear 2-12 hours after early arrivals in the highlands, and often occur during or after the first night of the climb.
Most cases of AMS are mild. Symptoms can be improved quickly if the pawn is able to descend the mountain to a lower altitude.
However, AMS can also be severe and cause death. This if not treated quickly, which can cause lung problems (endemas) or cerebral disorders.
Not only that, AMS can get worse if the climber has certain medical conditions. Therefore, for people who want to climb and have a certain risk of illness, they should first consult a doctor before climbing to avoid AMS.