Altitude sickness can occur from an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level, as of 4500 meters 50% of all people are affected. This is due to the oxygen content (oxygen partial pressure) of the air decreasing with altitude. It can affect anyone, whether young or old, athletic or less active. Whether you fall ill or not does not depend on your physical fitness, but primarily on the speed of ascent and the altitude at which you sleep. Early signs of altitude sickness are headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, dizziness, loss of performance and sleep disturbances. If these occur, it is important to pause the ascent to give the body time to adapt to the altitude. If you continue to climb, you may experience balance problems, vomiting, sensitivity to light, palpitations and shortness of breath. An immediate descent is essential here, as otherwise life-threatening forms of altitude sickness, high-altitude cerebral edema and/or high-altitude pulmonary edema, can occur.
In which countries can altitude sickness become an issue?
In principle, the risk of altitude sickness exists worldwide once the threshold altitude of 2500 meters is exceeded. The Andes, the Himalayas or Kilimanjaro are popular destinations at high altitudes, but many mountains and passes here in Switzerland also exceed the 2500 meter mark.
How can I protect myself from altitude sickness?
A slow ascent is of crucial importance. From an altitude of 2500m, the sleeping altitude should not be increased by more than 300-500m per day. An additional rest day should be taken for every 1000m. You should also avoid nicotine, alcohol and sleeping pills and make sure to hydrate. If the above-mentioned early signs occur, the ascent must be paused until they disappear. If the symptoms continue to increase, you must descend to lower altitudes (at least 500 meters altitude). If a slow ascent is not possible, the precautionary intake of Diamox® (axetazolamide) can reduce the risk of developing acute altitude sickness. However, the medication can also have side effects, so it should be tested out for a few days beforehand.
What should you know about altitude sickness?
If possible, plan your route with a slow ascent that includes increasing your sleeping altitude in increments 300-500m per day. Take an additional rest day every time 1000m of altitude is attained.
Avoid nicotine, alcohol and sleeping pills during your ascent and drink plenty of fluids.
Look out for the first signs of the onset of altitude sickness in yourself and your companions.
If you notice early signs of altitude sickness, you should pause your ascent until you are symptom-free. If there is no improvement, you should start a descent of at least 500m.
If a slow ascent is not possible, the medication Diamox® can be taken as a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of illness. Ask your doctor for advice on this and test your tolerance before going to high altitudes.
Further information on altitude sickness can be found on HealthyTravel.
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