ALTITUDE ILLNESS
Altitude illness is usually preventable if ascent is slow. Persons traveling above 8,000 feet are most likely to be symptomatic. The chances increase to about 15% when sleeping above 8,000 feet. Being in excellent physical condition has no bearing on one's ability to acclimate to altitude.
Sleeping a night or two at a lower elevation will help the body's process of acclimatizing.
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Take It Easy |
Resist the urge to overdo it the first day or two. Stop early when you start to feel fatigue or any prolonged breathlessness. |
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High Carbohydrate Diet |
Increase carbohydrate intake (pasta, rice,pancakes) to 70% of total calories. This means reducing fat intake. |
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Avoid Alcohol, Tranquilizers & Sleeping Pills |
The first two nights, all of these things slow your body's adjustment to elevation. This is critical if you exhibit any of the symptoms below. |
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Medication |
There is prescription medication which helps prevent illness and speeds acclimation |
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MILD |
Headache; rundown feeling; nausea; shortness of breath with exertion; poor appetite |
Mild symptoms are indistinguishable from a hangover. Take Tylenol or apsirin for headache. Benadryl for nausea. Avoid all alcohol. |
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MODERATE |
Weakness; headache not relieved by Tylenol/aspirin, vomiting, raspy cough; balance/coordination problem* |
If moderate symptoms occur seek medical care. *Balance difficulty is highly predictive of serious progression of illness. See physician immediately. |
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SEVERE |
Wet cough; shortness of breath at rest; disoriented, "leave me alone...;" too weak to eat or get up; lips or fingernails blue in color |
Seek medical help immediately; dial 911. |
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Altitude Illness - emedicine from WebMD
Revised November 29, 2011