Altitude Sickness: Are You At Risk & How Can You Treat It?

Anyone who has experienced altitude sickness knows how horrid it can make you feel, so it is sensible to be as prepared for it as you possibly can before you head off on your holiday.

What is altitude sickness?

Altitude sickness is the experience of unpleasant symptoms that occur when you ascend too quickly, typically happening at 2,500 metres above sea level.

This means anyone who is travelling to parts of the world known for its tall mountain ranges and sky-high cities are at risk of developing altitude sickness. This includes:

• The Himalayas in Nepal 

• Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

• Cusco in Peru

• La Paz in Bolivia

• Quito in Ecuador

• Bogota in Colombia 

• Lhasa in Tibet (China)

• Leh in India

• Addis Ababa in Ethiopia

The reason people who don’t typically live at altitude become ill is because of the change in oxygen levels and air pressure. As a result of this, the body might struggle to adjust to the different altitude, which means it gets less oxygen when breathing. 

What are the symptoms of altitude sickness?

Altitude sickness can hit you very quickly, just a few hours after arriving at a higher elevation. Symptoms you may experience include:

• Appetite loss

• Dizziness

• Headaches

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Fatigue

• Weakness

• Sleeping difficulties 

However, some people suffer with severe symptoms of altitude sickness, which can lead to high altitude cerebral oedema, or swelling of the brain. Signs of this include confusion, disorientation, being unable to walk in a straight line, hallucinations, and a severe headache.

Some people might develop high altitude pulmonary oedema, which is the build up of fluid in the lungs. With this, they may experience severe shortness of breath, a tight chest, bloody mucus, or blue or pale skin, lips or fingernails. 

At its worst, it can be life threatening, which is why it is important to take the illness seriously and look after yourself before symptoms take hold.

Can you avoid altitude sickness?

The main way to avoid getting sick from high altitude is to ascend slowly, taking a few days to reach the higher altitude. This might mean arriving at a lower level area and driving to your destination, instead of flying there straight away. 

It is advisable to only increase elevation by 500 metres per day beyond 2,500 metres above sea level. This will give your body time to adapt to the lower oxygen levels in the air. 

While this might mean taking longer to reach your destination, at least you’ll know you’ll be in a fit state to enjoy it once you arrive.

The NHS advises drinking plenty of water, up to five litres per day, as breathing more deeply can result in greater loss of fluid. By the same token, avoiding alcohol and caffeine is a good idea, as these dehydrate you. 

When it comes to food, eat plenty of carbohydrates to give you more energy, as the altitude will take it out of you. 

If you have suffered from altitude sickness before or are worried about it for your upcoming trip, you can also take medication to reduce the symptoms if you do get it. 

Your local pharmacy that offers travel vaccinations might also have Acetazolamide, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. These help to minimise the impact of altitude sickness for those who are moderately affected. 

How to relieve symptoms

Travellers who do experience altitude sickness can be reassured that their symptoms typically get better after a few days, as their bodies acclimatise to the reduced oxygen levels. 

They can also take steps to relieve symptoms:

• Stop ascending further, as this will only enhance your illness

• Get plenty of rest until you feel better

• Drink lots of water to keep your body hydrated

• Eat carbohydrates to give yourself energy and combat feelings of fatigue

• Manage headaches with pain killers

• If symptoms persist, descend to a lower level 

• Continue to take acetazolamide to prevent symptoms worsening 

With these tips in mind, all holidaymakers should feel confident they will be able to combat altitude sickness on their travels, even if they are planning expeditions at great heights.