Tibet Travel Advice on What to Do When Lack of Oxygen

Tibet is a desirable tourist destination, but it is beautiful and “dangerous”. One problem you have to face when traveling to Tibet is lack of oxygen. At an altitude of more than 3,000 meters, the air in Tibet is thin, with low air pressure and low oxygen content. Tibet belongs to the typical high-altitude plateau climate. The main features of Tibet’s climate is cold and dry, with strong sunshine, large day and night temperature difference. The partial pressure of oxygen is 69% that of the plains. Therefore, when we travel to Tibet, we must prepare some goods to deal with the possible lack of oxygen on the plateau. 

Symptoms of Oxygen-poor

Although they can vary from person to person, the most common hypoxia symptoms are: changes in the color of your skin, ranging from blue to cherry red, confusion, cough, fast heart rate, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, slow heart rate, slow heart rate, slow heart rate, etc. If it is serious, the patient will suffer from twitching, coma and pulmonary edema. And he/she need to go to the hospital to get treatment for hypoxia and to keep a check on your oxygen level.

What to Do When Lack of Oxygen

1. Get Acclimatized

It is recommended to buy a box of aspirin, several boxes of glucose solution, plastic bottle oral solution and glass bottle injection in the drugstore on the way. If you feel headache and discomfort, you can drink two immediately and get quick effects. Do not do strenuous exercise to the plateau, pay attention to keep warm, do not take a shower at the first night. Drink hot water as far as possible in resting place. It is normal to experience altitude sickness. Try to adapt your body to it. At first, don’t rely solely on oxygen bottle, or you’ll be less comfortable at higher altitudes. In case of severe altitude sickness, seek medical treatment in time.

2. Take Some Oxygen

If you’re slightly hypoxic, don’t worry. Temporary hypoxia doesn’t do any harm to your body, and it will disappear after a while of adaption. But if you have severe hypoxia, you need to replenish your oxygen supply immediately. Once the symptoms of high altitude sickness appearing, the most effective treatment is to take oxygen, increasing the body’s oxygen intake. However, oxygen is easy to produce side effects that is to make you depend on it. So oxygen is not the first option. But be sure to bring a portable device that provides you with oxygen. You can buy it in the clinic, drugstore or even in the hotel. Our tour guide will also prepare the portable oxygen for our clients. 

Keep Reading:

Altitude Sickness in Tibet

Avoid High Altitude Sickness in Tibet

Medicine for High Altitude Sickness in Tibet

Five Suggestions on Alleviating High Altitude Sickness in Tibet

Why Do not Travel to Tibet When Catching a Cold