Altitude sickness can occur when you travel to a high altitude too quickly.
Breathing becomes difficult because you aren't able to take in as much oxygen.
Altitude sickness, also called acute mountain sickness (AMS), can become a medical emergency if ignored.
Age, sex or physical fitness have no bearing on your likelihood of getting altitude sickness.
Just because you haven't had it before doesn't mean you won't develop it on another trip.
When Does Altitude Sickness Occur?
Before I talk about preventing altitude sickness, let me first explain what is classed as high altitude?
Up to 1,500m (4,900ft) = High
1,500m – 3,500m (4,900ft – 11,500ft) = High Altitude
3,500m – 5,500m (11,500 – 18,000 ft) = Very high Altitude
Above 5,500m (18,000ft) = Extreme high altitude
And to give you an idea the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest in the Himalayas is a staggering 8,848m (29,035ft).
Who wants to climb that? Well, not me, its way to high and far too expensive, that why i choose Kilimanjaro Machame route 7 Days
Top Tips for preventing altitude sickness
Here are my top tips for preventing altitude sickness.
But if you want to know more about how altitude can affect you then keep reading to hear stories from fellow hikers.
1.Drink plenty of water. Keep hydrated. (No alcohol or caffeine).
2.Take paracetamol (or equivalent) for mild headaches.
3.Loss of appetite may occur but remember to keep energy levels up by eating regularly.
4.Spend extra time (where possible) acclimatising so your body adjusts to the height.
5.Try local remedies – (Coca tea in Peru, hot chocolate in Hawaii and Sea buckthorn juice in Nepal).
6.Less oxygen can cause a sore throat so pack some cough sweets.
7.Walk slowly to allow your body to acclimatise. (Even if you are super fit still walk slowly – AMS can affect everyone)
8.Trust your instincts and keep your guide informed. Never risk your health.
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