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!

[@WenD1908]

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.

[@lgarcia67]

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.

[@CircaBEFORE]

That is a really smart idea bringing oxygen machine, no matter what i do I get sick from altitude and I’m fit, no matter how fit I am, I still get super sick at even 2,000ft

[@anniehuckerby9281]

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

[@joannerupinskas5613]

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

[@antreaserobinson7995]

Thank god for Uncle Eric ❤❤❤

[@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…

[@Ryan-jx4vh]

Wow, my house in Breck is at 10,700 feet. I think the main thing is for people to acclimate without exertion. Glad you are ok. 💯

[@olga159]

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

[@jarcha4200]

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

[@sarahince8231]

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.

[@6skw]

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

[@sandys2672]

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

[@macrichardson7440]

Im sure glad he is ok !

[@heidiiiiiiii]

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

[@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

[@allthingswavy6420]

It's like surfacing from a scuba dive. Gotta do it very slowly and in stages.

[@tannaphillips6840]

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

[@shelbs200]

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.

[@hikerhobby1204]

Wow Shelby! 67% 02 sats!!! I’m a double lung transplant patient, I’ve learned to tune into rails as well. I’m happy you’re OK!

[@1991ROLEX]

"Altitude Sickness" it is deadly, and if you have a "cold" it can happen faster. So glad you are a survivor, like me. I was lucky, I was able to "get down" quicker and not need hospitalization.

[@CourageUnderFire87]

Wow what a coincidence that his dad went in a hike and the same thing happened to him

[@heidic4977]

Did they check his cardiac function ?

[@janebrewster9618]

So scary and important to know.

[@patriclo9509]

Got altitude sickness once going from Tempe to Vail. Grew up at altitude, can hit anyone.

[@microbios8586]

Be careful when traveling to seemingly normal places like Mexico City. The elevation is brutal if you have underlying conditions.

[@thecorpsofdiscovery]

Reminds me of a time I saw a fella ditch his pack and have assistance from his friends to hike Elbert in CO. He looked bad. I wonder whatever happened to him....

[@marymoriarity2555]

Thank goodness this man had help to take him to a medical center to get the treatment he needed. I certainly hope that he does not suffer any long-term effects runners high elevation a dime certainly they will keep checking him

[@JackieMoss]

NM is a mile+ high. Always be careful.

[@evanhughes1510]

A mile is not that high!

[@wealthtrekkers]

This happened to me after hiking for 20hrs at 10k altitude except I managed to not go to the hospital. I feel asleep for 2 hours and woke up feeling like I was breathing though a straw, my chest hurt. I can barely find information about this issue

[@wbl5649]

I want to go to Mammoth but have decided not to. Years ago I passed out in a Lake Tahoe casino and had be taken in a wheelchair to security and given oxygen. So Im afraid that could happen at Mammoth. Although Ive been to Tahoe last year and I was fine.

[@joannepiatte4026]

I never saw the point of climbing mountains.

[@altitudeiseverything3163]

He wasn’t ‘mountain climbing’, he was hiking in an area at higher altitude.

[@CandleHandle951]

I heard the " bad News 📰🤓😵‍💫😵💫🤮, Sorry 2 hear that "Morgan" I remember seeing 😎u on the News ,all the time , 🕜🕣🥾⛺Hope ya feel better, 👍

[@lubalegacy]

I wonder if this can happen during an airplane ride

[@olga159]

AIRPLANES ARE PRESSURIZED

[@somethingoldsomethingnew2199]

My guess would be no because the cabin is pressurized but I could be wrong.

[@microbios8586]

​@@somethingoldsomethingnew2199 I think it's pressurized to the equivalent of 10,000 feet but it's only a few hours at most and you're not walking or doing anything physical other than sitting in your seat

[@lchaney]

​@@microbios8586 It's 8,000 feet and you're correct about the short duration lessening the impact, but it can still affect seniors and cardiac patients.

[@jnolasc01987]

Morgan is such a hottie TEXAN😘😘😘😘😘 Congrats on your baby, Morgan I love his reporting, such a deep voice👊👊

[@peggyivey5828]

I alway have severe shortness of breath and fatigue for about a week.

[@reginagermano2695]

❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏

[@user-bm9mk1ew2p]

Is this a lingering affect from people having had Covid?

[@sherihunter1293]

His fathered died before Covid with similar traits. Genetics

[@Fordgroup00]

Most likely

[@Ariccio123]

Absolutely possible. COVID can cause pulmonary edema.

[@Starfish2145]

No

[@jarcha4200]

No.

[@SCUBONZIES]

Does Morgan have female lungs ?

[@pty1pty2]

Dude, find another sport

[@stevencipriano3962]

Awe

[@rudi-183]

Dont believe anything dr?john says

[@chicagomike]

Morgan is handsome with beautiful dimples. Lol.

[@ilovemybrothers8637]

Why do people climb mountains anyway knowing that its very dangerous ????

[@3_up_moon]

Why do you drive a car when you know it is very dangerous? You have to live your life.

[@altitudeiseverything3163]

I *live* at an altitude higher than that. The “danger” comes with not taking the time to acclimate to a higher altitude -preferably some days (or weeks) at a mid-way point- before going higher and exerting oneself. It’s difficult to do when vacation time is limited, but does make a big difference. We keep a canister of supplemental oxygen on hand for out-of-town visitors and wait s few days before taking them out for hikes, making sure they drink plenty of water and refrain from drinking alcohol while they acclimate.

[@Fordgroup00]

🦠🧪💉 effects of the ….

[@TheHealthyAmericanPeggyHall]

I'll bet they won't be taking any more booooosters!

[@Fordgroup00]

Naw they won’t put that together

[@BIKESnSKILLETS]

He looks a little fragile anyway

[@evanhughes1510]

Has nothing to do with being fragile

[@tazinyunis]

Side effects of Covid Vaccine

[@exacerbatedfellow1236]

Altitude sickness is like being drunk and badly hungover at the same time.

[@WilliamsPinch]

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

[@Not11111]

5:20 most photogenic hospital photo.

[@connielogue2735]

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

[@stella-gx8ne]

Texas is almost at sea level. Never ever hit those altitudes right off the bat. You have to acclimate.

[@bonblue4993]

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.

[@robinaruzza2128]

This very thing happened to my niece when she went to Colorado and was skiing. It was unfortunate and fortunate at the same time. When they took an X-ray, they spotted a mass next to her heart. She is starting chemotherapy next week for Hodgkins Lymphoma. Sadly, she has had to postpone her wedding that was going to happen in October. She is a young woman that is always smiling. It is going to be a long six months for her and family.

[@NONAME-ut6vb]

Prayers for her and your family

[@robinaruzza2128]

Thank you for your prayers, we can never have enough prayers.🙏🏻❣️

[@rhymeandreasoning]

Isn't there a SMART APP on watches to keep track of vital signs? SCARY

[@gregg5958]

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

[@jobeLewOOH]

🙏🏻🙏🏻💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@eleanormassaro5195]

Aww! What a beautiful name for his new baby girl that’s due soon!😊

[@vucat]

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

[@paulcarucci7936]

Why isn't flying in an airplane a factor with this? I'm guessing because your in a controlled climate?

[@Backpack16]

So glad you’re feeling better!

[@limestar9751]

Get checked for clotting disorders also? Factor V Leiden or Protein S?

[@msj7872]

So happy you were in a place, with people who could help you. And, Zion is one of my favorite places on Earth.

[@jonjap8363]

It is not just an oxygen, it is a high flow oxygen delivery to your lungs.

[@Starfish2145]

Over 7000 feet is high altitude for flatlanders.

[@tavodupre-lpz6749]

He is my crush!! 😅❤❤

[@autumnmeadows4079]

I am so gla that you did so well

[@joannedevine2473]

❤

[@sharonsolana]

Who knew?

[@inmyfreetyme]

The FIX for it is to NOT Climb that HIGH. We are not meant to Climb that HIGH and our bodies R telling us just that. Listen to your body. It knows best. God bless!

[@evanhughes1510]

8,000 ft is not that high. Compared to places in Colorado that are 12,000 - 14,000 in elevation

[@altitudeiseverything3163]

I’ve lived at 9,000+ ft elevation for decades with no problems and routinely hike at elevations up to 12,000 ft. Higher than that I begin to experience mild headaches, so I set that as my limit. I raised healthy, active children here. People around the globe live at elevations much higher and, in fact, living at higher elevation correlates with longer lifespans. The key is acclimation. It takes several months for one’s body to completely adjust to higher altitude, so no one living near sea level should expect to get off a plane and immediately head to 8,000+ ft and hike, ski, or climb without possibly suffering consequences. Visitors benefit from a few days (preferably a week or more) at lower altitude (here the “flatlands” of the Denver metro area 😉), drinking lots of water, and abstaining from alcohol before coming to play in the mountains. A bit of supplemental oxygen can also help.

[@DavidGBlair]

I’m amazed this happened at 8000 feet, which is not very high.

[@kloatlanta]

Above 8000😊