Inexperienced travelers often suffer from altitude sickness while making rapid ascents to higher altitudes. Altitude sickness is usually a reaction of the body to the lower levels of oxygen available as the altitude increases.

Symptoms

The symptoms of altitude sickness can include headache, fatigue, sleeping difficulties, nausea, a high pulse rate (over 110), rapid breathing at rest, loss of appetite and unusual fatigue while walking.

More serious symptoms include difficulty in breathing due to high altitude pulmonary edema (excess fluid in the lungs), unsteady gait and altered mental functioning due to high altitude cerebral edema (swelling of the brain due to fluid accumulation).

Severe cases may result in fatalities if treatment is not provided immediately. In most cases, altitude sickness is mild and usually goes away without requiring any major treatment.

Prevention

The best way to prevent altitude sickness is to ascend slowly. Above 2400 meters (about 8000 feet) one should not ascend more than 300 meters (1,000 feet) per day. Even if you climb to higher levels, you should set up your base camp and sleep at a lower level.

Upon reaching higher altitudes, you should avoid strenuous activities until you are completely acclimatized. A good way to prevent altitude sickness is to avoid dehydration during the ascent by drinking a lot of fluids. Symptoms of altitude sickness can be avoided by having a diet rich in carbohydrates and low in fat and salt.

Travelers with severe heart, lung, or kidney disease should consult their physician before traveling to high altitudes. Sleeping medications for insomnia should be avoided, as they can worsen respiratory complications and can even cause death.

Treatment

Oxygen and medications like Diamox or Decadron help in rapid acclimatization and should be taken before the climb. If symptoms of acute altitude sickness occur, you should stop ascending, rest, and get adequate fluids and calories.

If symptoms continue to worsen after several hours of acclimatization, you should begin to descend and seek medical help. A rapid descent to lower altitudes helps to alleviate the symptoms and can save your life.