Altitude

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Prevention is Key

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.

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How Can You Improve Acclimation 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.

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Symptoms of Altitude Illness

Severity	Symptoms	Treatment / Notes
MILD	Headache; rundown feeling; nausea; shortness of breath with exertion; poor appetite	Mild symptoms are indistinguishable from a hangover. Take Tylenol or aspirin for headache. Benadryl for nausea. Avoid all alcohol.
MODERATE	Weakness; headache not relieved by Tylenol/aspirin, vomiting, raspy cough; balance/coordination problems*	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.