What is it?
Altitude sickness can occur in people who ascend rapidly to high altitude without acclimatising. It usually occurs above 2,500 metres. There is a mild form and a severe form of altitude sickness. If a staggering, drunken gait develops while walking, this can mean that fluid has built up in the lungs and brain, which can lead to coma and death.
Symptoms may include:
- shortness of breath
- headache
- nausea
- vomiting
- dizziness
- weakness
How do you catch it?
You can develop altitude sickness when you are in an area with a low level of oxygen in the air. Susceptibility to altitude sickness varies from person to person. If you have had altitude sickness before, you are more likely to get it again. Altitude sickness can occur from a few hours to a day after arrival and is unpredictable. With the mild form of altitude sickness the symptoms usually last a few days.
How do you prevent it?
The best treatment is to descend. You can reduce the risk of altitude sickness by ascending slowly to altitudes above 2,500 metres. It is then best to acclimatise for two days when you climb above 2,500 metres. In addition, it is best not to sleep more than 300 metres higher than the night before. You should avoid alcohol and sleeping pills. There is no vaccine against altitude sickness. In certain cases a medicine can be prescribed.
In addition to the conditions at your destination, your personal situation and travel plans are variables that have a decisive influence on the preparations you may wish, or be required, to make before you travel. At Amsterdam Travel Clinic you can obtain expert travel medicine advice.
The above description is only a general, brief and simplified account and is provided for information purposes only. No rights may be derived from it. Personal advice is provided solely during a consultation with the specially trained Certified Travel Medicine Physician or Travel Medicine Assistant.