I am going to visit a mountain town which is at 11,000 feet - and I have heard that many people get really bad altitude sickness when they go there. I want to know if there are any ways to either stop the altitude sickness or get over it once you have it.
2007-03-28 04:12:09 · 9 answers · asked by Travel 2 in Travel ➔ Travel (General) ➔ Health & Safety
I have my own "remedy" since I get altitude sickness over 8000 ft!...
The first is to stay really well hydrated. Drink lots of water before you go and while you're there. I always take aspirin (not tylenol...good old aspirin) before starting the trip and regularly while travelling. If you are able to stop along the way, take a break for an hour or so at lower elevations. I stop at about 5,000 ft and again at 7,000-8,000 and every 1000' or so. Makes the trip longer, but I don't get the headache that makes me want to rip the top of my head off!
Another thing that REALLY helps me is what I call being conscious of your breathing. From the moment I begin my trip, I focus on using my diaphram muscles to take deeper breaths. You want to do this so much that it becomes automatic. This keeps me from getting the pukes which usually hit me in the middle of the 2nd night. When (if) you feel that horrible cold sweat and racing heart come on, then force yourself to deep breathe and relax! Now that I know how my body reacts, I fall asleep doing the deep breathing in hopes that I can maintain it through the night.
Another little trick if you have a few days before you leave, take iron to ensure your iron stores are good. It helps with your oxygen use.
And finally, don't party, smoke or drink alcohol until you've absolutely acclimated!
2007-03-28 04:34:35 · answer #1 · answered by pknutson_sws 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people get altitude sickness and some don't. There seems to be no correlation between sexes or fitness levels. Prevention is the best course of action.
Do not over-exert yourself or move higher for the first 24 hours.
Stay properly hydrated. Acclimatization is often accompanied by fluid loss, so you need to drink lots of fluids to remain properly hydrated (at least 3-4 quarts per day). Urine output should be copious and clear.
Take it easy; don't over-exert yourself when you first get up to altitude. Light activity during the day is better than sleeping because respiration decreases during sleep, exacerbating the symptoms.
Avoid tobacco and alcohol and other depressant drugs including, barbiturates, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills. These depressants further decrease the respiratory drive during sleep resulting in a worsening of the symptoms.
Eat a high carbohydrate diet (more than 70% of your calories from carbohydrates) while at altitude.
The acclimatization process is inhibited by dehydration, over-exertion, and alcohol and other depressant drugs.
If you get it, either get down to a lower altitude (below 8,000 feet) or take Diamox (Acetazolamide). Diamox takes a while to be effective so you would have to take it 24 hours before the visit and for the first 3 - 5 days until you get acclimated.
2007-03-28 11:31:39 · answer #2 · answered by SA Writer 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know where you are going, but in Peru and surrounding countries they chew coca leaves or drink coca tea.
Drink plenty of liquid.
There are some pills you can take, but there effectiveness is debatable.
Acclimatisation is the best way to prevent it.
On my trip to Peru, less women than men suffered from altitude sickness - and even really fit men got it.
For more information, look up the entry in Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altitude_sickness
2007-03-28 11:38:16 · answer #3 · answered by KJUK 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lots of water, avoid alcohol. Take it easy. At that altitude you will probably get headaches and maybe feel a bit of nausea, but it should go away after a couple of days.
2007-03-28 11:38:05 · answer #4 · answered by feebee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Coca leaf infusion,put some dry leaves in boiling water and for about 5 min.(they also come in small bags like tea) you can drink it with sugar if you want, it does a great job with high altittude sickness!
2007-03-28 11:26:57 · answer #5 · answered by Pilar 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when my boss did the Everest marathon they did it in stages so as to adjust to the altitude.... so they spent a day or two at one height n so on and so on.
2007-03-28 11:20:32 · answer #6 · answered by mags_brfc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stay at sea level
2007-03-28 11:15:50 · answer #7 · answered by Sir Sidney Snot 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Drink lots, and lots, and lots of water to prevent it.
2007-03-28 11:16:49 · answer #8 · answered by Emy G. 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go somewhere not so high.
2007-03-28 11:20:21 · answer #9 · answered by BARROWMAN 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋