Useful tips

High Altitude

Travellers to high altitudes, both mountains climbers and trekkers, should be advised of the potential hazard of acute mountain sickness. Even those who are fit run the risk of acute Mountain sickness during rapid ascent to high altitudes if they spend more than half a day above 2,500 metres. A number of studies have shown a correlation between incidence of that disease and altitude: in the Swiss Alps, high altitude sickness have been observed in 9% of climbers at 2,850 meters, 34% at 3,650 metres, and 53% at 4,559 metres.

The occurrence of problems is depended of:

• Your physical form. Be in good shape before start climbing.
• The speed of the ascent. Avoidance of problems is best achieved by a slow ascent and by maximising the opportunities to acclimatise.
• The altitude where you spend the night. By spending the night at a lower altitude than the highest attained during the day is helpful - Climb High Sleep Low¨

Acute Mountain sickness (AMS) is the term used to describe the most common symptoms which include

• headache,
• nausea,
• dizziness,
• loss of appetite,
• vomiting
• insomnia.

• High Altitude Cerebral
• Pulmonary Oedema (HACO & HAPO)

both of which are life threatening can result.

Prevent AMS by:

• slow ascent. The difference in altitude between one night camp and the next should not exceed 300 metres
• if signs of acute mountain sickness appear, a day of rest must be taken at a lower altitude if possible. If signs persist or increase, the patient must go down at least 500 metres
• avoid exhaustion
• reduce use of salt
• avoid dehydration
• Prophylactic acetazolamide has been effective in preventing altitude sickness in susceptible travellers.

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