Altitude sickness is a group of symptoms caused by a rapid ascent to high altitudes. The biggest concern is the decreasing oxygen content of the air at the increasing elevations, along with the decreasing barometric pressure. At 10,000 feet above sea level the oxygen content of the air is only 69 percent of the air at sea level. With slow ascent, the human body is able to adjust much better to the changes in pressure and oxygen content. People live at moderately high altitudes, but it takes time for the human body to adjust.
Education and knowledge of Acute Mountain Sickness is helpful in several ways. The symptoms are usually gradual in progression and predictable when ascending to high elevations. Mild illness/symptoms may not be preventable, but progression to severe illness and the need for evacuation is preventable if travelers know the symptoms and are willing to admit they are present, descend if the symptoms become worse, and never ascend to a higher elevation while experiencing symptoms. Three of the important factors that influence risk of the traveler developing altitude illness are elevation at designation, rate of ascent, and exertion.
TYPES OF ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Acute Mountain Sickness is the mildest and most common form. It is the least dangerous form of altitude sickness and affects close to half of all people who begin near sea level and climb to 14,000 feet of elevation, without allowing time to acclimate. It includes mild symptoms of headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, nausea and sometimes vomiting. These symptoms usually resolve in 48 hours after acclimatization.
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema is a progression of Acute Mountain sickness. Symptoms include fatigue, severe shortness of breath, and a cough which may or may not have frothy sputum. This is usually rapidly progressive, and can be quickly fatal. Definitive treatment is descent to lower altitude.
High Altitude Cerebral Edema can occur with High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, or by itself. Symptoms include lethargy, confusion, unsteady gait, and may resemble alcohol intoxication. A person with High Altitude Cerebral Edema requires immediate medical intervention and descent. Death can occur within hours.
PLAN AHEAD
Traveling to altitudes above 8,000 feet above sea level slowly is one of the best ways to prevent getting altitude sickness. It takes two to three days to get used to high altitudes before going above 8,000 feet. Each time you increase your altitude by 3,000 feet, spend a second night at this elevation before going further.
If you do fly or drive to a high elevation and can’t spend time at lower elevations on the way, the prescription drug acetazolamide can speed up acclimatization. Talk to your doctor to see if it, or other medications used by professional mountain climbers, are appropriate for you to take on your vacation before you depart. Certain people cannot take it (people with sulfa allergies have a high incidence of allergies to acetazolamide). Diabetics should note that not all glucose meters read accurately at high elevations and altitude illness can trigger diabetic ketoacidosis. As always, the best policy for medical questions is to consult with your doctor.
More Tips
- “Climb high and sleep low.” If you are climbing over 1,000 feet per day, make sure you come back down to a lower altitude to sleep.
- Make sure you are drinking three to four quarts of water daily.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol.
- Caffeine is okay if you normally drink it.
- Do not use sleeping pills.
- Eat a light, but high calorie diet. Make sure about 70 percent of your calories are coming from carbs.
No content in this article should be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
This article by Dr. Patricia Ellison was originally published in Girl Camper Magazine
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