What is high-altitude or mountain sickness?
Sometimes people get sick at high altitudes. This is called mountain sickness or high-altitude sickness.
What causes this problem?
Lack of oxygen causes high-altitude sickness. As altitude increases, the air becomes “thinner,” which means less oxygen is in the atmosphere. You get less oxygen in your lungs with each breath, so the amount of oxygen in your blood declines. All people can experience mountain sickness, but it may be more severe in people who have heart or lung problems.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms usually begin within 48 hours of arriving at high altitude. Symptoms include:
- headaches, breathlessness, fatigue
- nausea or vomiting
- inability to sleep
- swelling of the face, hands and feet
Recommendation
Most people adjust or “acclimatize” to the high altitude within a few days. Here are some tips:
- Avoid strenuous activity for the first day or two.
- Drink extra fluid.
- Be careful of drinking alcohol. Its effect is magnified at high altitude.
- Your doctor may prescribe medication to help prevent or treat altitude sickness.