- What is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) And How to Avoid It
The high altitude and people's reaction to it is one of the difficulties to travel to Tibet. But it is not so serious as you imagined if you know it and get prepared for it.

What is High Altitude?
- High Altitude: 1500 - 3500 m (5000 - 11500 ft)
- Very High Altitude: 3500 - 5500 m (11500 - 18000 ft)
- Extreme Altitude: above 5500 m

When acclimatization lags significantly behind ascent, various symptoms occur. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) represents the body's intolerance of the hypoxic (low oxygen) environment at one's current elevation

What kinds of physiologic reactions will occur?
- Hyperventilation (breathing fast)
- Shortness of breath during exertion
- Increased urination
- Changed breathing pattern at night
- Awakening frequently at night
- Weird dreams

The altitudes of different places in Tibet

Place	Altitude	Place	Altitude
Lhasa	3658 m 12001 ft	Nyingchi	3000 m 9843 ft
Nagqu	4507 m 14787 ft	Tsedang	3500 m 11483 ft
Qamdo	3205 m 10515 ft	Xigatse	3836 m 12585 ft
Damshung	4200 m 13780 ft	Gyangtse	4040 m 13255 ft
Pome	2750 m 9022 ft	Tingri	4300 m 14108 ft
Amdo	4800 m 15748 ft	Zayui	2325 m

Tips to avoid AMS
- Do exercises to keep you fit before coming to Tibet.
- Avoid catching a cold.
- Make sure you have a good sleep the night before you flying to Lhasa.
- You'd better not to take any activities for the first day in Tibet.
- After getting off your airplane in the airport, walk slowly, take some deep breath. Do not do anything severely.
- Ascend to higher altitude gradually. DO NOT ASCEND ANY HIGHER if you feel bad.
- Prepare some AMS pills according to your doctor's suggestion.

High Altitude Sickness

Acute Mountain Sickness(AMS) is common at high altitudes, and depends on the elevation, the rate of ascent and individual susceptibility. Most visitors to Tibet will suffer from at least some symptoms that will generally disappear through acclimatization in several hours to several days.

Symptoms tend to be worse at night and include headache, dizziness, lethargy, loss of appetite, nausea, breathlessness and irritability. Difficulty sleeping is another common symptom, and many travelers have trouble sleeping for the first few days after arriving in Lhasa.

To prevent acute mountain sickness:

• Drink extra fluids. The mountain air is dry and cold and moisture is lost as you breathe. Evaporation of sweat may occur unnoticed and result in dehydration.
• Eat light, high-carbohydrate meals for more energy.
• Avoid alcohol as it may increase the risk of dehydration, and don't smoke.
• Avoid sedatives.
• Don't push yourself when climbing up to passes, rather take plenty of breaks.
• Avoid catching cold before you entering Tibet.

Tibet Tour Expert says:

For all of the groups , the authorized doctor from Tibet Tour Expert will come to guest's room to give a regular check. For the people who are affected severely with headache and sleepless, they could get injection in the room or take some Tibetan medicine as per doctor's advices. Many of our clients have been treated and approved for its efficiency.

Who can't go?

Tibet Tour Expert may suggest whose clients who suffered from high blood pressure and severe heart disease not travel to Tibet.