Altitude sickness - Symptoms, Causes, Prevention and Treatment of High Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness also known as mountain sickness, a condition which affects individuals (usually mountaineers), who are exposed to high altitudes to which they are unaccustomed. At high altitudes (4,500m above sea level), there is a lack of oxygen and reduced atmospheric pressure. This causes a person to hyperventilate.

What is High Altitude?

Altitude is defined on the following scale High (8,000 - 12,000 feet [2,438 - 3,658 meters]), Very High (12,000 - 18,000 feet [3,658 - 5,487 meters]), and Extremely High (18,000+ feet [5,500+ meters]).

Causes of Altitude sickness

The main cause of altitude sickness is going too high too quickly. Given enough time, your body will adapt to the decrease in oxygen at a specific altitude. This process is known as acclimatisation and generally takes one to three days at any given altitude, e.g. if you climb to 3,000 metres and spend several days at that altitude, your body will acclimatise to 3,000 metres.

Altitude sickness symptoms and signs

Symptoms include:

• nausea
• headache
• exhaustion
• anxiety

Treatment of Altitude sickness

In severe cases, there may be dangerous pulmonary oedema which requires urgent medical treatment at a lower altitude. Mountain sickness can arise even in those who have taken time to gradually acclimatize to higher altitudes. It can occur unexpectedly in an experienced mountaineer who has not been affected on previous occasions.

How can I prevent high-altitude illness?

You can do 2 important things to prevent high-altitude illness:

1. Take your time traveling to higher altitudes.
    
2. Sleep at an altitude that is lower than the altitude you are at during the day.

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Health Tip

Foods high in substances called purines increase levels of uric acid in the blood, and foods to be avoided include poultry, strawberries, shellfish, game, caffeine and alcohol.