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Why do people cough on Everest?

Aetiology. Altitude-related cough has traditionally been attributed to the inspiration of the cold, dry air which characterises the high altitude mountain environment [2].



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High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a severe form of high altitude illness that, if left untreated, can lead to mortality in 50 percent of affected individuals. It occurs secondary to hypoxia and is a form of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. It is characterized by fatigue, dyspnea, and a dry cough with exertion.

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The most common causes of death on Mount Everest are acute mountain sickness, falls, avalanches, exhaustion, crevasses, exposure, and hypothermia. Long list, right? Well, when you're climbing above 8,000 meters, a lot can go wrong.

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According to the Mayo Clinic, during exposure to frigid temperatures like those on Everest—which can dip to minus 20 Fahrenheit during peak climbing season—at first you're liable to feel a prickling, tingling sensation in your outer extremities.

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Some degree of altitude sickness is common on a high-altitude trek like the Everest Base Camp trek. So yes, your body doesn't function as normal when you go into a high area where it must manage with less oxygen. Very importantly, you need to give it adequate time to adapt to the reduced oxygen intake.

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It is estimated that climbers on Mount Everest burn around 6000 calories a day as opposed to the typical 2000 calories a day. It is important that climbers are prepared for this increase in calories burned. People interested in climbing Mount Everest also need to prepare mentally.

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