## Can You Get Altitude Sickness When Skydiving?
Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), is a condition that can occur when you ascend to high altitudes too quickly. Symptoms of altitude sickness can include headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and dizziness.
Skydiving is an activity that involves rapidly ascending to high altitudes. So, it’s possible to get altitude sickness when skydiving. However, the risk of altitude sickness is relatively low for skydivers. This is because skydivers typically ascend to high altitudes for a short period of time.
The risk of altitude sickness is highest for people who ascend to high altitudes quickly and stay there for an extended period of time. For example, people who hike to high altitudes or climb mountains are at a higher risk of developing altitude sickness than skydivers.
There are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of altitude sickness when skydiving:
Ascend to high altitudes gradually. If you’re planning on skydiving, it’s important to ascend to high altitudes gradually. This will give your body time to adjust to the changes in air pressure.
Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids will help to prevent dehydration, which can worsen altitude sickness symptoms.
Eat light meals. Eating light meals will help to reduce the risk of nausea and vomiting.
Get plenty of rest. Getting plenty of rest will help your body to recover from the effects of altitude sickness.
If you do experience symptoms of altitude sickness, it’s important to descend to a lower altitude as soon as possible. This will help to relieve your symptoms and reduce your risk of more serious complications.
## Symptoms of Altitude Sickness
The symptoms of altitude sickness can vary from person to person. Some people may only experience mild symptoms, while others may experience more severe symptoms.
The most common symptoms of altitude sickness include:
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Fatigue
Dizziness
Loss of appetite
Difficulty sleeping
Shortness of breath
Confusion
In severe cases, altitude sickness can lead to more serious complications, such as:
High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE): HAPE is a condition that causes fluid to build up in the lungs. This can lead to shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain.
High altitude cerebral edema (HACE): HACE is a condition that causes fluid to build up in the brain. This can lead to headache, nausea, vomiting, and confusion.
## Treatment for Altitude Sickness
The treatment for altitude sickness is to descend to a lower altitude as soon as possible. This will help to relieve your symptoms and reduce your risk of more serious complications.
If you experience severe symptoms of altitude sickness, you may need to be given oxygen or medication.
## Prevention of Altitude Sickness
There are a few things you can do to prevent altitude sickness when skydiving:
Ascend to high altitudes gradually. If you’re planning on skydiving, it’s important to ascend to high altitudes gradually. This will give your body time to adjust to the changes in air pressure.
Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids will help to prevent dehydration, which can worsen altitude sickness symptoms.
Eat light meals. Eating light meals will help to reduce the risk of nausea and vomiting.
Get plenty of rest. Getting plenty of rest will help your body to recover from the effects of altitude sickness.
If you do experience symptoms of altitude sickness, it’s important to descend to a lower altitude as soon as possible. This will help to relieve your symptoms and reduce your risk of more serious complications.