Options For Treating Eisenmenger Syndrome

Avoid High Altitudes

High altitudes are a challenge even for the fittest mountain climber, and sometimes even they need to resort to supplemental oxygen. A patient with Eisenmenger syndrome that is not under control should avoid high altitudes, and even a healthy person should consult with their doctor if they plan to go to a place over eight thousand feet above sea level. This is simply because high altitude areas have less oxygen than lower areas, and an individual with Eisenmenger syndrome already has difficulty getting enough oxygen. People who suffer from altitude sickness often become nauseated and dizzy. They have a headache, struggle to breathe when they’re exerting themselves, have trouble falling asleep, and suffer from tachycardia. If they don’t acclimate themselves to the new altitude before climbing higher and refuse to return to a lower altitude, they may have trouble breathing even when they’re resting. Other symptoms are chest pain, vomiting, mental confusion, vomiting, and cyanotic skin. At even higher altitudes the lungs and brain can swell up with fluid, which is life-threatening.