A headache, which is usually throbbing.The symptoms of altitude sickness include: As your body gets used to the altitude, the symptoms go away. This causes the headache and other symptoms of altitude sickness. When you go too high too fast, your body cannot get as much oxygen as it needs. What causes it?Īir is 'thinner' at high altitudes. It is smart to take special care if you go high-altitude hiking or camping (like in the Rockies) or have plans for a vacation or trek in high-altitude countries like Peru, Ecuador, or Nepal.Īltitude sickness is also called acute mountain sickness. Neither your fitness level nor being male or female plays a role in whether you get altitude sickness.Īltitude sickness can be dangerous. Experts do not know who will get it and who will not. For example, you may get a headache when you drive over a high mountain pass, hike to a high altitude, or arrive at a mountain resort. It happens most often when people who are not used to high altitudes go quickly from lower altitudes to 8000 ft (2500 m) or higher. This causes symptoms such as a headache, loss of appetite, and trouble sleeping. Rand Sutherland, MD, MPH (February 2011).Condition Basics What is altitude sickness?Īltitude sickness occurs when you cannot get enough oxygen from the air at high altitudes. This test may be done at rest, during sleep and while you are walking for a thorough evaluation. Oximetry is a simple, convenient, painless way to determine your need for oxygen where a small clip is placed on the finger, toe, earlobe or an infant's foot. Oxygen can decrease shortness of breath when you are active and allow you to do more.

In adults with chronic lung disease, studies have shown that long-term oxygen therapy has improved quality and length of life. Oxygen therapy can assist with the growth and development in children with chronic lung conditions. There are many benefits of oxygen therapy. The major reason why oxygen therapy is used is to assure that there is enough oxygen in the blood to provide for the body's needs. If symptoms persist, the person should contact their physician. People who experiences altitude sickness should rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take a mild pain killer, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. Minimize alcohol consumption because that can lead to dehydration, which can occur easily in the dry environment in the mountains.Įat lighter meals, high in carbohydrates. The most reliable way to avoid altitude sickness is to ascend to altitude slowly, say spending a night in Denver before traveling to the mountains. People suffering such symptoms should consult a doctor. They are characterized by extreme fatigue, weakness, and severe cough or confusion, drowsiness, and difficulty walking. In extremely rare occasions people can develop more severe symptoms, called high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) or high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). People with underlying respiratory or cardiovascular diseases should consult a doctor before coming to high altitudes as these conditions can make it difficult to adjust to altitude. It is not dangerous in the vast majority of cases among people traveling to Colorado mountains.

It is more likely among people who have come from sea level and among younger people, especially children. It is difficult to predict who will get altitude sickness. Symptoms usually develop in the first 12 hours after reaching altitude and subside in one to three days. Difficulty sleeping, shortness of breathe, loss of appetite, and vomiting are other common symptoms.

About one in five people traveling to the mountains of Colorado suffer altitude sickness. Since National Jewish Health is located in the 'Mile High City' of Denver, its elevation can cause some patients, who come from out of state, to experience altitude sickness.Īltitude sickness occurs when the body reacts poorly to sudden travel to high altitudes, where the air is 'thinner' and the body gets less oxygen in each breath.

Altitude sickness