An altitude above 8,000 feet is considered high enough to produce symptoms of High Altitude sickness, also called mountain sickness. Some very sensitive people can experience headache and shortness of breath at lower altitudes, around 5000 feet, or the altitude of Denver, Colorado.
The problem with higher altitudes is the decreasing level of oxygen, the higher you climb. Symptoms of High Altitude sickness usually begin within 24 to 48 hours of arriving at high altitude. Most people adjust to the lower oxygen level within a day or two. However, persons with heart disease or chronic pulmonary disease may have more serious symptoms of hypoxia (decreased blood oxygen) that can also last longer.
High Altitude sickness includes three manifestations: Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). Common symptoms of High Altitude sickness include headache, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, sleeplessness, swelling in the face, hands, feet or legs. In more severe cases, you may have a frothy cough, gurgling or rattling breath sounds. With cerebral edema, you may experience confusion, behavioral changes, lethargy and loss of coordination or balance.
Mild symptoms should clear on their own if you avoid exertion. With severe symptoms, you should immediately descend to a lower altitude. When the symptoms disappear, you can attempt to return to the higher altitude if you proceed more slowly to allow time to adjust.
The best way to adjust and lessen the symptoms related to High Altitude sickness is to ascend slowly to the higher altitudes so that you can give your body time to acclimate. This may not be easy when you have to fly into a high altitude airport, such as Quito, or La Paz. Try to arrange your trip so that you have time to adjust to the lower levels of oxygen. Within forty-eight hours, you should fell up to your normal exertion.
Eating a high carbohydrate diet rich in bread, potatoes, pasta or rice can help the adjustment. Drink extra fluids, about 1-1/2 gallons per day. Try to avoid smoking, drinking alcohol or taking medications such as sleeping pills that might interfere with breathing or depress your oxygen levels. Plan to use your favorite headache medication and a decongestant nasal spray which can both help minimize the initial effects of high altitude.
As you plan your travel, you might also want to ask your physician for a prescription for acetazolamide (brand name Diamox®). This medication can help relieve the symptoms of high altitude illnesses. However, it is not with its own precautions. You should not use it if you allergic to sulfa. You may also experience some common side effects of this drug including numbness and tingling in the fingers and toes, frequent urination. You should drink additional fluids to avoid dehydration and headaches.
