OTHER KILIMANJARO HEALTH ISSUES

Simple precautions avoid common health problems associated with African climbing voyages on Kilimanjaro. Rapid changes in humidity and temperature cause coughs and colds, with flu-like symptoms from breathing cold air at altitude. Aspirin, warm salt water gargles and anesthetic or menthol throat lozenges ease discomfort. Drink plenty of water.

Uhuru Trails by AfricanMecca advises keeping your guide informed as it is easy to confuse these problems with the onset of altitude sickness. Phlegm, green or pinkish mucus, or chest pain could indicate bronchitis needing antibiotics, or pneumonia or HAPE demanding immediate evacuation.

Inadequate clothing puts you at risk of exposure, whether from sunstroke or hypothermia. In relatively mild conditions, exhaustion, dehydration and inadequate food intake make this worse. Even porters risk frostbite on arctic slopes. Make sure you are all warmly clothed with warm hats, thick gloves and socks, and facial skin is covered or insulated with Vaseline in freezing conditions, especially in high winds, or protected from sunburn with screening lotion. Simple frost nip can be alleviated by tucking affected fingers into warm armpits, but more severe numb, white patches need painful thawing in warm water once shelter is reached. Snow blindness responds to aspirin, eye drops and rest in a dark place.

Once you start to shiver from exposure, your pulse slows and you will lose body heat very rapidly, with poor co-ordination, hallucination and collapse. Immediate warmth is necessary. Shelter, a sleeping bag with hot water bottles and preferably another warm body to share a naked embrace is the standard treatment to restore the will to recover.

Your guide is the best person to decide the cause of your distress, whether it is hypothermia, AMS or loneliness, and will organize the best strategy for your well-being. Bring any medication you have been receiving for existing problems such as hemorrhoids, thrush, cystitis etc., which can flare up under the harsh conditions of a testing Mt. Kilimanjaro trekking challenge.

Herbal remedies such as Ginkgo Biloba have proved useful at altitude on grueling African wilderness vacations. Routine feet care starts with breaking in strong, supportive climbing boots before your Tanzanian hiking tour of Mount Kilimanjaro. Keep feet and socks clean, warm, and dry. Treat blisters immediately, draining them with a sterilized needle and protecting them with skin-like dressing.

Knees and ankles may suffer from continuous trekking up or downhill. Elastic surgical supports or bandages are good for older or troublesome joints, whilst trekking poles help distribute weight evenly. Practice hill walking in advance with bent knees and sideways placement of the feet, particularly when descending, to avoid risk of strains and sprains.

Review Below The Complete Guide On High Altitude Sickness For Your Kilimanjaro Climb

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