The health advisory for visiting the Amarnath Cave is issued by the Amarnath Shrine Board and complying with it is a must for every pilgrim.
As Amarnath Cave is located at an elevation of 12,760 ft. /3,888 m, the trek to the holy temple exposes you to extreme cold, low humidity, increased ultra violet radiations, and reduced air pressure. Under these extreme weather conditions, one of the most common risks that trekkers face on Amarnath Yatra is the development of Acute Mountain Sickness(AMS).
AMS is a physical distress that affects the brain and the lungs which occurs when you ascend to altitudes over 8,000 ft. /2,500 m.
Along with AMS, on your journey towards Amarnath Temple, the following high altitude ailments of varying degrees could catch you.
The most common form of mountain sickness is AMS which may occur after you ascend to attitudes above 2,500 m. It is characterized by breathing problems, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and difficulty in sleeping. Amarnath Mandir at an altitue of 3.888m.
A severe form of AMS, HACO occurs as a result of swelling of brain tissue. The swelling has the potential to impair the brain. The illness is severe as it can lead to coma/death within hours. HACO often manifests itself at night and common symptoms include breathing problems, headache, fatigue, visual impairment, bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, disorientation and partial paralysis.
HAPO is caused by the accumulation of fluids in the lungs. It leads to respiratory failure and manifests itself at night, usually the second night of climbing high altitude areas. HAPO progresses rapidly and is fatal in nature, such that the fatality can take place within hours. Its symptoms include shortness of breath even when resting, persistent dry cough, bright red-stained sputum, weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, chest tightness, congestion and increased heart rate. Younger people are said to be prone to this ailment as they are full of energy and normally overexert while trekking.
