What is altitude sickness?
Altitude sickness is a condition that effects people traveling to high altitudes. It has many different symptoms caused by insufficient oxygen in the blood.
You may think that altitude sickness is something that only affects hikers and climbers. In reality, if you live at sea level and travel to a new place that is significantly higher up you may encounter some negative effects:
There are three different kinds of Altitude Sickness:
● Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
● High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) – This affects the lungs
● High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) – This affects the brain
The higher above sea level you are the thinner the air becomes, and the less oxygen available. To cope with this lower level of oxygen, our bodies need time to adjust. It will take 4-7 days for your body to adapt to the new altitude. During the adjustment period your breathing and kidney function will become faster to keep your body in balance. As long as you allow your body the time to gradually adjust and acclimatize you should not notice any serious effects.
What are the main signs and Symptoms of Altitude sickness?
At 4000ft to 8000ft
You may get a slight headache and will probably feel a little out of breath if you exercise or do anything to get your heart rate up. At this height you are unlikely to feel unwell or have any other symptoms. This may last a few days to a few weeks until your body adjusts.
At 8000ft
At this elevation AMS or Acute Mountain Sickness is likely.
Symptoms include:
● Headaches
● Nausea and vomiting
● Sleep problems
● Dizziness
● Lack of appetite
● Fatigue and loss of energy
● Shortness of breath
Over 8000ft
If you are planning on hiking a mountain or climbing you should always try and follow the rule: “Climb high, sleep low”. This will help you to adjust your body to its new environment. Hiking or climbing over 8000ft you are at risk of both High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). Both are very serious conditions and if you have any signs or symptoms you should seek medical advice right away.
Some symptoms of HAPE and HACE can include:
● Loss of coordination and you may have trouble walking
● A severe headache that doesn’t get better with medication
● Tightness of the chest
● Confusion
● Shortness of breath
● A cough that produces a white or pink frothy substance
● Coma
How to deal with altitude sickness
The key to dealing with altitude sickness is prevention. This should begin before you arrive at your destination with ensuring you are well rested and hydrated. For at least 3 days before you fly, try to drink at least 3 liters of water each day and continue this for the first 7 days of your trip. Remember, your kidneys will need to adjust so hydration is one of the most important things you can do.
1. Rest
If you are flying in from sea level it is important to rest for at least the first 24 hours. This will give your body time to adjust without putting it under any added stress from exercise.
2. Acclimatize Gradually
This really is the key to avoiding altitude sickness. If you are planning on doing something like Machu Picchu or Everest Base Camp the best thing you can do is to take time to adjust to your new environment in the closest town before you embark on the hike. 3-7 days is an ideal time to allow your body to adjust.
3. Avoid Alcohol
As tempting as it might be, you should avoid alcohol and sleeping tablets until you are adapted as this will slow the process down.
4. Keep your Iron Level Up
As iron helps with oxygen delivery in the body, it will help to keep a good level of iron by taking an iron supplement before and during your stay.
5. Drink Coca Tea
If you travel to anywhere in South America at elevation you will likely be offered coca tea to help with the altitude. You can buy it in most supermarkets or from street vendors. Drinking a cup or two a day can really help with altitude sickness. Yes, Coca is made from the leaves of the cocaine plant, but don’t worry drinking the leaves is completely legal and nowhere near potent enough to cause any effects like the illegal drug. It isn’t advised to drink more than 5 cups a day though as it is likely to cause side effects like heart palpitations.
6. Take Chlorophyll Drops
You can get them from any good natural health shop and you simply add a few drops to your water and drink daily. The chlorophyll will help to increase the red blood cells in your system. The more red blood cells there are the more oxygen can be absorbed. I have heard from many travelers that this had helped prevent altitude sickness when hiking. Start to take the drops 3-4 days before your fly and continue taking for as long as needed.
7. Medicate
If you don’t have the time to rest and adapt slowly, and you will be traveling to an altitude over 6000ft, then taking medication prescribed by a doctor could be a good option for you. You will need to visit your physician before you leave for your trip.
*This article was written by a travel blogger and is based on experience only. Please seek additional information from your doctor.
About the Author | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
Claire Summer
Claire is a full-time traveler, yoga teacher, and digital nomad. Currently exploring South America whilst attempting to learn Spanish and the art of packing light. At 34 Claire sold all her worldly possessions that wouldn’t fit into 3 boxes or her backpack and hit the road. With no plans to stop anytime soon Claire is always looking for her next adventure be it attempting to surf or climbing a volcano she’ll try (almost) anything once!
