Should I be concerned about altitude sickness?

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Should I be concerned about altitude sickness?

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    You’ve probably heard the term ‘altitude sickness’ being thrown around in climbing circles, or amongst your friends and family. Perhaps you saw it while watching Vertical Limit. Altitude sickness occurs when the body is unable to acclimatise adequately to a rapid increase in altitude. Some symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, lack of appetite, exhaustion, muscle aches, rapid pulse even at rest (+/- 120 beats per minute) and insomnia. Here are some tips and precautions when it comes to altitude sickness:

    • Consider adding an extra night prior to booking your hike. This will give your body more time to adequately acclimatise. Some routes are longer, which means they cost a bit more, but this may just ensure a better chance of successfully summiting.
    • Maintain a slow and steady pace. It’s not a race and there’s little point in trying to out-climb everyone.
    • Drink at least 4 – 6 litres of water each day.
    • Always listen to your porter. They will be a great judge of whether you are going too fast. They are also very familiar with the symptoms of altitude sickness.
    • Medications are available to combat altitude sickness. Consult your doctor on the availability of these medications.

     
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