NBC's Morgan Chesky talks high altitude pulmonary edema scare

NBC correspondent Morgan Chesky shares how a hiking trip to Utah ended up in a rush to the ICU due to a condition that can affect anyone at high altitudes: high altitude pulmonary edema. He details the harrowing ordeal and Dr. John Torres explains the illness and its symptoms.

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#health #hiking #todayshow

[Robnags]

Morgan is my favourite NBC news reporter. Glad he is sharing his story and is on his way to make a full recovery!

[WenD]

Thankfully his uncle saw the signs and acted. I’m thinking he doesn’t want to be the story but I’m glad he’s sharing his experience to help others.

[lgarcia]

I suffer from high altitude sickness. I love going to Colorado and have been to Utah as well. Beautiful country. But yes, I have to take a lot of precautions. When I go I have rented a small oxygen machine and carry it with me. It is a blessing and in a couple of days I can hike and do whatever. It helps acclimate very quickly.

[joannerupinskas]

I lived for years at high altitude in Park City, Utah. Witnessed many a skier succumb to high altitude. Prior to living there, I got altitude sickness in Breckenridge and was taken off mountain in a sled, put on oxygen for a few days. Fortunately, that was it. Retuned to Park City last year and got a really bad headache and vomiting and that was just relaxing with no exertion at all. It’s no joke. Glad Morgan has a happy ending

[anniehuckerby]

Thank Goodness Morgan is okay I'm sure it gave everyone who loves him a scare. Congratulations on the Baby 🥰 I watch NBC all the time and see Morgan reporting

[bonblue]

I am so happy that Morgan survived his ordeal! He is a wonderful reporter, and I knew of him because he used to be a reporter in the Seattle area where I live.

[bobsiddoway]

I got HAPE in the Wind Rivers after traveling from a concert in SLC, then immediately hitting the trailhead at 9, 000’ and hiking to 11, 000’ and staying there for several days. By day 3 I couldn’t walk more than 50 feet without almost passing out. My two buddies had to hike my pack and all my gear out. ER doc said I was half a day from dying…

[skw]

Let’s go uncle Eric!! Miss ya Mr Chesky thank the Lord you were there.

-Sebastian W

[sarahince]

Bring that finger pulse ox's with you on hikes when you're not used to the altitude. Our son has a lung condition that causes persistent hypoxia (lowest we've seen him is at 65). We don't believe he's ever had HAPE but when going over Vail, Colorado he passes out every time even on oxygen.

BTW part of what makes HAPE insideous is you don't behave as hypoxic as you actually are. The reason the nurse didn't believe he (in the video) was at 58 was because he was still somewhat coherent and conscious. Typically she wouldn't see patients awake at 58. 80s you don't feel good but technically it's not causing your brain harm yet. In the 70s your brain is no longer functioning correctly. In the 60s you're fighting to stay conscious....50s is where you begin to see brain damage & organ damage EXCEPT with HAPE (and covid hypoxia).... For reasons not fully understood HAPE hypoxia effects the brain differently, possibly because it's retaining oxygen in the brain even though otherwise it's showing a huge deficit...which buys time BUT unfortunately also makes people think they are okay far longer than they actually are which is why they end up in the predicament of an induced heart attack or similar issue. If they had felt as hypoxic as they were, they would of been so symptomatic so quickly that they likely would of gotten help faster. They saw the same in covid. I listened to one story of an ER doctor that dealt with an adult male patient with an oxygen sat of 1. Completely unheard of. You're typically dead before then. They put that pulse ox on his fingers, toes, palm, ear lobes and even his man parts trying to find any better saturation and did arterial blood gasses seeing the same. The guy was CONSCIOUS!. Totally bananas. Vascular disorders can do crazy things sometimes! Unfortunately for covid patients what would happen is they would feel fine until their oxygen saturation was horrifically low, and at that point it was really too late.

[WilliamsPinch]

This can also happens when people move from low to high altitude cities.

[sandys]

Sorry you lost your dad so young. Glad you are okay.

[olga]

When he said Dallas to Bryce and Zion in less than 24 hours, i got my answer and it makes sense

[jarcha]

He describes old age perfectly…”really wanting to do something but your body won’t let you do it.”

[freyafoxmusic]

This happened to me too just this weekend. 8, 100 ft above just staying at a ski lodge in park city Utah . Thank god I’m alive

[heidiiiiiiii]

This is most certainly on my mind when I travel to CO from NC.

[shelbs]

Never had any altitude issues, but this past yr I got HAPE in Breckenridge. They said it happens more over 8K. I arrived and had a o2 sat of 67. I am a nurse and knowing what rails are in my own chest, I knew something was terribly wrong and it wasnt COVID.

[vucat]

Thanks to Morgan for this info, and I'm glad to hear he is doing well.

[connielogue]

I would encourage him to get a Cardiac Catheterization, since any blockages could be potentiated, . (RN from Critical care)

[gregg]

Wow. Horrible experience but this info will undoubtedly help others. Good information to know!!

[tannaphillips]

Awesome story!! Ty for sharing!!! So important!