Altitude Sickness
Altitude Sickness is a medical condition caused by relative oxygen deprivation at high altitude. It is common in mountain climbers and tourists to mountainous areas.
Early symptoms
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Appetite loss.
- Dizziness
- Vivid dreams or poor sleep.
Advanced symptoms
- Shortness of breath, especially at rest.
- Dry cough.
- Low grade fever.
- Rapid pulse.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Lack of coordination, confusion and even coma.
Prevention
- Expect altitude sickness if your ascent is >50m per day.
- Climb high, sleep low.
- Acclimatise if possible.
- Use appropriate medication – speak to a Go Health professional.
3 Golden Rules
- A useful rule of thumb if: if you feel unwell t altitude, it is altitude sickness – unless there is another obvious explanation.
- Never ascend with symptoms of altitude sickness.
- If you are getting worse, go down at once.