Manasi Parekh, who escaped Nepal-Tibet floods by hours, landed on oxygen after a ‘stupid’ mistake

Theatre and TV actress Manasi Parekh recounted her personal experience of escaping the Nepal-Tibet floods by just 4-5 hours. She had undertaken a Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and, in her own words, "stupid" mistake of washing her hair and falling asleep, leading to Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Parekh was placed on oxygen and prescribed medication by a doctor, who advised against washing hair at night.

Dr Amit Saraf, director of internal medicine at Jupiter Hospital, explained that AMS occurs due to the body's sudden exposure to lower oxygen levels at high altitudes, especially when ascent is too rapid. Symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, poor appetite, and disrupted sleep. Washing hair in a cold, high-altitude environment and sleeping with wet hair could exacerbate these symptoms, as the body would be exposed to cold for longer periods, increasing discomfort and fatigue.

Dr Saraf emphasized the importance of staying warm and dry in mountainous regions, as cold temperatures, wet clothes, wet hair, physical activity, and insufficient sleep all add stress to the body. He stressed that while washing hair does not directly cause AMS, it can make the situation more uncomfortable if one falls asleep with wet hair in a cold environment.

Dr Manjusha Agarwal, consultant at Gleneagles Hospital Mumbai, advised that if someone does wash their hair, they should dry it thoroughly before going to sleep and keep warm. She reiterated the importance of ascending gradually, staying hydrated, avoiding excessive physical exertion during the initial days, and paying attention to symptoms such as persistent headache, vomiting, severe dizziness, unusual tiredness, or difficulty breathing.

Severe AMS can lead to more serious altitude-related illnesses that require immediate medical attention.