Altitude illness is usually preventable if ascent is slow. Persons traveling above 8,000 feet are most likely to be symptomatic. The chances increase to about 15% when sleeping above 8,000 feet. Being in excellent physical condition has no bearing on one's ability to acclimate to altitude.
Sleeping a night or two at a lower elevation will help the body's process of acclimatizing.
Take It Easy
Resist the urge to overdo it the first day or two. Stop early when you start to feel fatigue or any prolonged breathlessness.
High Carbohydrate Diet
Increase carbohydrate intake (pasta, rice,pancakes) to 70% of total calories. This means reducing fat intake.
Avoid Alcohol, Tranquilizers & Sleeping Pills
The first two nights, all of these things slow your body's adjustment to elevation. This is critical if you exhibit any of the symptoms below.
Medication
There is prescription medication which helps prevent illness and speeds acclimation
MILD
Headache; rundown feeling; nausea; shortness of breath with exertion; poor appetite
Mild symptoms are indistinguishable from a hangover. Take Tylenol or apsirin for headache. Benadryl for nausea. Avoid all alcohol.
MODERATE
Weakness; headache not relieved by Tylenol/aspirin, vomiting, raspy cough; balance/coordination problem*
If moderate symptoms occur seek medical care.
*Balance difficulty is highly predictive of serious progression of illness. See physician immediately.
SEVERE
Wet cough; shortness of breath at rest; disoriented, "leave me alone...;" too weak to eat or get up; lips or fingernails blue in color
Seek medical help immediately; dial 911.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Altitude Sickness - Wikipedia
Traveler's Health - CDC
Altitude Illness - emedicine from WebMD
Revised November 29, 2011
