Planning a ski trip or a mountain camping adventure? Maybe you are headed to the Rockies, the Andes or the Alps. The fresh mountain air and breathtaking views are undeniable, but don’t let altitude sickness hold you back.
If you plan to travel higher than 8,000 feet, here’s what to know about how altitude can affect your body and how to prepare for it.
What happens to your body at high altitude?
Altitude refers to the height above sea level. At lower altitudes, air pressure is at its highest. The higher you go, the thinner the air becomes. This means there is less oxygen available for your body. Your body has to work harder to get the oxygen it needs to keep your organs functioning.
“To maintain oxygen levels to critical organs, your body goes through several steps,” said Jasjot Johar, MD, an emergency medicine physician with Banner Health. “Your breathing and heart rate increase. Over time, your body learns to draw more oxygen from the blood and even makes more blood cells but this takes time.”
If you ascend or go up too quickly, your body might not have enough time to acclimate, which can lead to altitude sickness.
What is altitude sickness?
Altitude sickness happens when your body struggles to adapt to the lower oxygen levels at high altitudes. It can happen to anyone, regardless of age, fitness level or experience. Altitude sickness is a spectrum. Not everyone will get exactly the same symptoms.
“Typically, the first symptom is acute mountain sickness, which includes headaches, nausea and fatigue,” Dr. Jahor said. “This is very common, affecting nearly 50% of people who rapidly go from low to high altitude.”
Often, symptoms go away on their own. However, in rare cases, it can lead to serious forms of altitude sickness, like high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) or high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). These can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
Seek emergency care if you experience:
- A cough
- Trouble breathing
- Confusion or problems thinking clearly
- Severe headache that doesn’t improve with medication
- Difficulty walking or balance problems
“In situations like these, seek professional medical care and decrease altitude immediately —even a couple thousand feet can make a difference,” Dr. Johar said. “Oxygen may provide some relief but it is only temporary.”
I have asthma. Am I at greater risk for altitude sickness?
“People with a history of asthma or other lung diseases are not necessarily more prone to altitude issues,” Dr. Johar said.
Many common conditions like diabetes and asthma don’t increase your risk, especially if they are under control. However, there are a few conditions where Dr. Johar suggested taking a cautious approach:
- Congestive heart failure
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Anemia
- Pregnancy
Talk to your health care provider or a Banner Health specialist before traveling if in doubt.
The most common theme with people who get altitude sickness is traveling too quickly to higher altitudes. Drinking alcohol, using certain medications and having a history of altitude sickness can also increase your risk.
How to prevent altitude sickness
The best way to prevent altitude sickness is to give your body time to adjust to the altitude gradually. Here are some tips to help you acclimate:
- Ascend slowly: Increase your sleeping altitude by no more than 1,600 feet per day once you’re above 8,000 feet. “For example, if you’re traveling to Colorado to ski, consider spending a day in Denver before you travel to the ski resorts,” Dr. Johar said.
- Take rest days: Spend a day resting for every 3,300 feet you ascend.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to keep your body well-hydrated and avoid dehydration.
- Eat light meals: Choose high-carbohydrate foods to give your body easy-to-digest energy.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine: These can dehydrate you and worsen symptoms.
- Medications: If you have a tendency toward altitude sickness or are considered high-risk, you may be able to take medicines like acetazolamide (Diamox) or dexamethasone to help prevent and treat it. However, this medication is not routinely recommended for everyone, so talk to your health care provider about what is best for you, given your history and plans. Recent studies have shown taking ibuprofen may also help prevent altitude sickness.
- Climb high, sleep low: “Altitude can affect your breathing more severely while sleeping,” Dr. Johar said. “You may want to consider taking day trips to higher elevations and then sleeping at lower elevations.”
What should I do if I get altitude sickness?
If you start to experience symptoms of altitude sickness, take action quickly:
- Stop ascending: Don’t go any higher until your symptoms improve.
- Rest and hydrate: Take a break, drink water and eat some food.
- Descend: If your symptoms worsen or don’t improve, go to a lower altitude as soon as possible.
- Seek emergency care: In severe cases like HACE and HAPE, you may need oxygen and medical treatment.
Takeaway
A mountain trip can be an amazing experience but remember to take it slow. The more you travel to high altitudes, the more you will learn how your body tolerates them and how to adapt. By following these simple steps, you can have a great adventure while staying safe and healthy.
