When you and your family head up to the mountains for a ski vacation, the last thing you want is to experience a health crisis, illness, or injury. However, these things can happen when you are at a ski resort and spending a great deal of time outdoors and exerting yourself. In order to be sure that you get the medical care you need when you are not feeling too well on the slopes, get to know some of the signs that you should seek out the care of a physician as soon as possible. Then, you will be sure that you stay safe and healthy as you hit the slopes and enjoy your ski vacation.
Prolonged Nausea and Rapid Breathing
Altitude sickness is one of the most common afflictions that people going on a ski vacation can experience. Many people who live their everyday lives away from the mountains severely underestimate the difference that changes in elevation, air pressure, and oxygen density can have on their body. They get to their ski resort and head right for the slopes and after that to the whirlpool bath or hot tub with a drink to relax.
For some people, this is okay and they will adjust more readily than others. However, if you notice that you are feeling nausea that does not go away when you take a break from the slopes, or if you are breathing rapidly or feel constantly short of breath, you may be suffering from altitude sickness and need to head to the doctor for some oxygen and additional medical treatments.
You Hit Your Head While Skiing
Even the most experienced skiers fall sometimes when they take to the slopes. And when falls happen, it is important to take the proper precautions to ensure that no major injuries have occurred. In the case that you fell and hit your head while you were skiing, it is in your best interest to head to an emergency room or urgent care clinic as soon as possible.
When you are out skiing in the cold, you will not experience pain as immediately as you would under normal circumstances. So, while the bump you got on your head may seem like no big deal because you are experiencing little to no pain, you may actually have a more serious head injury or concussion.
If you were unconscious at all, experience a headache once you get back to the lodge, or have any dizziness, nausea, or blurred vision, you likely have a concussion or could have a subdural hematoma (bleeding on the brain). Seeking medical care immediately can mean all the difference when it comes to such head injuries. As such, if you do fall and hit your head, don't try to tough it out or ignore it. Head back to the lodge and to the doctor as soon as possible to provide yourself with the best possible care.
Now that you know a few of the scenarios in which you will need medical care on your ski trip, you can be sure that you are taking the best possible care of yourself while on your vacation on the slopes.
For more information, talk to an organization like Medical Clinic of Big Sky.
