Tommy has over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, and his primary focus is helping travellers find the right cover for their medical conditions.
For those who love the great outdoors, hiking is a wonderful way to explore the beautiful and contrasting landscapes across the world, whilst also appreciating the truly breathtaking views the long and tranquil wanders can offer. Hiking to new heights can be an empowering and life-changing experience, but it also comes with risks that should be considered carefully.
Altitude sickness is an unavoidable consequence for many climbers seeking to scale new and exciting heights, and it is part of the process, but it can also cause complications along the way, especially for those with medical conditions. In this guide, we take a deeper look at how to reduce altitude sickness, what causes it and how to try and avoid it where possible.
What Is Altitude Sickness?
Altitude sickness, or acute mountain sickness (AMS), as it is also known, occurs when the body doesn’t have enough time to adjust to the lack of oxygen in the air at high altitudes.
It typically starts at around 8,000 feet and can affect anyone, regardless of their fitness level or prior experience with climbing at high altitudes. The lack of oxygen can cause a multitude of complications, some mild, but some also life-threatening if left untreated for too long.
What Causes Altitude Sickness?
The low oxygen availability at high altitudes causes altitude sickness. When climbing to heights above 8,000 feet, the air becomes thinner, meaning that with every breath you take, less oxygen is being delivered to your body.
Acclimatisation is really important when climbing mountains, as it allows your body time to adjust to the lack of oxygen in the air and therefore, cope with the atmosphere for longer. Advanced climbers tackling vast peaks like Everest and K2 often travel up the mountain to a certain point and then back down to acclimate their bodies to the climate. These slow and steady accents should hopefully reduce the chances of complications caused by rapid ascent.
Sleeping at high altitudes or spending too much time with reduced oxygen levels can also be a contributing factor for altitude-related illnesses, especially during sleep when your breathing slows. If you’re planning to climb a large mountain or plan to sleep on one, then we recommend travelling with a team of professionals who can guide and advise you on the journey.
Symptoms of Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness can present itself in several forms, some more serious than others. Early signs can include shortness of breath, headaches, nausea and fatigue.
The higher you climb, especially if you are doing so quickly, the symptoms can often worsen, with severe symptoms including confusion, fluid on the lungs or the brain and difficulty walking. Two of the most serious conditions are commonly referred to as HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) and HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema), which are when fluid builds in the lungs and brain.
HAPE refers to the lungs and makes breathing extremely difficult for those climbing at higher altitudes. Low oxygen levels at high altitudes cause blood vessels in the lungs to constrict, leading to leakage of fluid into lung tissue. It will start to present itself in a dry, persistent cough, chest tightness and severe fatigue and weakness. If untreated for too long, fatality can reach 50% and immediate descent and oxygen therapy are essential.
HACE is a similar condition, but it occurs when reduced oxygen leads to a fluid leakage and swelling in the brain. HACE is a little less common as it tends to occur at altitudes above 3,500m, but can sometimes appear in individuals who are more susceptible.
How to Combat Altitude Sickness
There are some simple ways to try to avoid altitude sickness; however, it can sometimes be unavoidable, regardless of the amount of training, planning, and preparation you do.
Acclimatisation is one of the best ways to prepare your body, so ensure that your ascent is gradual to allow your body time to adjust. You should make sure you plan rest days to allow your body to rest, too, but it is recommended that these rest days be planned at a lower altitude.
Nutrition and hydration are critical when hiking and mountain climbing. Your body will be burning a significant number of calories and exerting a lot of energy, so it needs to be fuelled in the right way. You should seek advice on your nutritional plan from a professional; this will avoid any confusion and give you peace of mind that your body is being fuelled correctly.
Similarly, sleep should be taken seriously and planned before you travel. Your body and mind will need time to rest and recuperate, so give it time to do so and plan rest into your daily activities.
If you are susceptible to health complications or have a pre-existing health condition, then it is worth consulting your doctor prior to travelling and climbing, and they will be able to advise on your best course of action and if you need to be prescribed any medication for the trip to help your body.
READ MORE: What vaccinations do you need for travelling abroad
Treatment Options for Altitude Sickness
Treatment options for altitude sickness can vary depending on the severity of your symptoms. If mild symptoms appear, then stop ascending immediately; climbing should not be resumed until the problem has resolved. Make sure you hydrate and fuel your body, and consult a professional on the best next steps.
If severe symptoms start to present themselves, then immediate descent is the most effective course of action. A vehicle or a helicopter should be used if the illness is severe enough that the individual is immobile. Supplementary oxygen or portable hyperbaric chambers to improve the oxygen flow around the body in about 30 minutes.
In any case of altitude sickness, you should seek medical advice and ensure you follow it, no matter how much you want to summit that mountain.
High-Altitude Destinations to Be Aware Of
We’re fortunate to have a plethora of truly remarkable and breathtaking mountain ranges across the globe, some of which include the Himalayas, home to Mount Everest, the Alps and the Andes. There are a few popular travel spots that are known for their elevation sickness risks, these include:
- Cusco, Peru (3,399m)
- La Paz, Bolivia (3,650m)
- Lhasa, Tibet (China) (3,656m)
- Mont Blanc, The Alps (4,805m)
- Everest Base Camp South, Nepal (5,364m)
- Mount Kilimanjaro Base Camp, Tanzania (5,895m)
Suppose you’re planning to tackle some of these mighty mountains. In that case, getting travel insurance should be a no-brainer, especially if you have an existing medical condition that can cause complications. Pre-existing medical travel insurance will cover you should there be a medical emergency on your travels, something that is more common on a hiking holiday.
Give you and your loved one the peace of mind that you’re covered should anything happen whilst you’re away. Hopefully, this guide has given you an insight into high altitude travel and the warning signs you should look out for on your next hiking adventure.
For more articles and guides like this, make sure you explore our blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Altitude sickness often starts to become a concern at around 2,500m above sea level. Some sensitive individuals may feel the effects at lower heights of around 1,500m to 2,100m.
Acclimatisation can depend on the altitude that you are looking to elevate to. For heights of 2,500m to 3,500m, the acclimatisation time is around 1-5 days. For those looking to take on mountains like Everest, then acclimatisation can take weeks.
Yes, medication can help prevent altitude sickness and can stimulate breathing and improve oxygenation, but it should only be taken if advised by a medical professional.
It isn’t thought that age plays a part in the risk of altitude sickness. For older travellers, the concern when climbing mountains often comes from pre-existing medical conditions.