How to Treat Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness can be deadly. Nausea, headache, fatigue, insomnia, and loss of appetite are all symptomatic of mild altitude sickness. Loss of coordination, chest pain, shortness of breath, and seizures mean you're in trouble and need medical attention. Once you've identified the problem for sure, here's how to treat altitude sickness:

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Stop climbing! Either stay in place until symptoms subside, or head back down the mountain. Use supplemental oxygen if you start suffering from mild symptoms, but save most of it in case the illness gets serious.

2. Exercise and get rehydrated. You should feel better within 48 hours. Whatever you do, don't head back up the mountain before you're completely, 100% recovered. You could get sick again even faster.

3. In the future, take preventative measures. Medicines like acetazolamide can be used to stop altitude sickness before it starts. You should also stay hydrated during each climb, and eat low-fat foods loaded with carbohydrates.

Resources

• Altitude Illness: Prevention & Treatment
• Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips
• No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks
• The Truth Behind One of Mountaineering's Most Mysterious Disasters

[sbarry77]

on 10/15/2009 Great tips on treating altitude sickness! 5*