ALTITUDE
ILLNESS
Prevention
is Key
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.
How Can
You Improve Acclimation to Altitude
Sleeping a night or two at a lower
elevation will help the body's process of acclimatizing.
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.
|
High
Carbohydrate Diet
|
Increase carbohydrate intake
(pasta, rice,pancakes) to 70% of total calories. This means
reducing fat intake.
|
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.
|
Medication
|
There is prescription medication
which helps prevent illness and speeds acclimation
|
Symptoms
of Altitude Illness
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.
|
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.
|
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 Sickness - Wikipedia
Traveler's
Health - CDC
Altitude Illness - emedicine from WebMD
Revised November 29, 2011