What are the symptoms and prevention methods of oxygen intoxication

"Oxygen intoxication" is a symptom opposite to altitude sickness and is also known as "oxygen poisoning." To put it simply, when you just arrive at the plains from the plateau, the human body is unable to adapt to the sudden increase in oxygen in the air, resulting in symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, and diarrhea. Generally speaking, after the symptoms of oxygen intoxication appear, you only need to pay attention to proper rest and a proper diet, and you will be back to normal in one to two weeks. However, if you are unable to get rid of the symptoms of oxygen intoxication for a long time, you will need to go to the hospital for treatment. In order to help everyone better understand oxygen intoxication, the following article will introduce the symptoms, manifestations, prevention methods and other related knowledge of oxygen intoxication.

1. Symptoms of oxygen intoxication

People who first arrive at the plateau will have a compensatory reaction, namely increased hemoglobin, rapid breathing, and increased heart rate. Over time, the human body has developed a certain degree of adaptability to the oxygen-deficient environment of the plateau. When moving from the plateau to the plain area, there is a change from a low-oxygen environment to a normal-oxygen environment. The body's original physiological adaptation to the plateau becomes a thing of the past, and its "historical mission" has been completed, so it will gradually be relieved or disappear. This change is called "deadaptation".

This "deadaptation" reaction may cause symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, chest tightness, dizziness, and diarrhea, just like being drunk. Due to physical reasons, some individuals' abnormal physiological parameters such as blood, heart, and lungs will continue to decline after returning to normal values, or even fall below normal values. Some people, after living in the plains for two consecutive years, will also experience symptoms such as lower hemoglobin levels, slower heart rate, increased cardiac output and blood volume, and reversal of pulmonary hypertension, which will have adverse consequences on the body.

2. The impact of oxygen intoxication

The symptoms of oxygen intoxication will vary in severity and duration depending on the duration of plateau activities and the altitude reached, and will generally disappear on their own within 1-2 weeks.

"Oxygen intoxication" is actually "oxygen poisoning", which, like altitude sickness, is also a normal physiological reaction of the human body. Although the harm to the human body is far less than that caused by altitude sickness, it can still have adverse effects on the body if you are not careful.

3. Prevention of oxygen intoxication

1. Pay attention to rest. Traveling is tiring enough, and coupled with "oxygen intoxication", you need to rest well after returning to restore your condition and physical strength.

2. Pay attention to your diet. Eat more antioxidant foods, more vegetables and vitamins, and drink less alcohol. Foods such as eggplant, orange, strawberry, soy products, and tea are rich in vitamin E, vitamin C, tea polyphenols, soy isoflavones and other food ingredients. They have strong antioxidant effects and are beneficial in preventing and treating "oxygen intoxication". Those with more severe symptoms can also take vitamin E.

3. Drink more water. Drink about 2-3 liters of water every day.