The mountains are an amazing place to be. I love frolicking among wildflowers and alpine lakes surrounded by epic views, and I enjoy them more knowing these magical places were only accessible via my own two feet (and a whole lotta grit and determination). But if there’s one thing that can ruin a hiking or backpacking trip–whether you’re completing a volcano trek in Guatemala or backpacking in Colorado–it’s altitude sickness.
Think you might have it? Wanna avoid it? Not even sure what the symptoms are? We’ve got you. Read on to find out how to identify, treat, and prevent altitude sickness.
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Right off the bat, let’s get this disclosure out of the way: I am not a medical professional. I interviewed a medical professional from NOLS for this article, but don’t use these tips and info as medical advice. Read it, be informed, go into your adventures prepared, and if things get serious, seek medical attention.
What causes Altitude Sickness?
Basically, altitude sickness is what happens when you go up in elevation where the concentration and pressure of oxygen in the air is reduced. As in, while oxygen molecules may be super close together at sea level so you’re breathing in plenty of them with every breathe, at higher altitudes, they’re much more spaced out, so you suck in fewer each time you inhale.
That means your body may compensate by breathing faster or harder than usual to try to get more oxygen. But it also means there is likely to be a lower concentration of oxygen in your blood, which your body doesn’t like. Because blood needs oxygen for everything from muscle recovery to organ function. It’s kinda important. All of it leads to various symptoms that range from mildly unpleasant to life-threatening (more on that below).
Altitude sickness can happen at lower altitudes if you’re sensitive, but 10,000 feet tends to be the delineation point between feeling fine and oh, my head.
And it usually hits within two days of arriving at higher elevations.
What are Altitude Sickness Symptoms?
Symptoms and signs of altitude sickness may vary from person to person, but generally, they include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Sometimes vomiting
- Tiredness
- Insomnia
- Occasionally a loss of appetite
Extreme altitude sickness can get serious and dangerous fast, so above 10,000 feet, keep an eye out for more severe symptoms, which could be a sign of high altitude pulmonary or cerebral edema, both of which can be deadly. Here’s what this symptoms look like:
- Loss of balance
- Confusion
- Severe headache
- Persistent cough (especially if it’s wet)
- Breathlessness even when you’re not doing anything
- Extreme lethargy
How to Prevent Altitude Sickness
While there’s no foolproof way to totally prevent altitude sickness, there are definitely ways to decrease the chance and amount of suffering.
- Acclimatize. When traveling to higher elevation destinations, spend 24–48 hours just resting or exploring on level ground before big climbs. This helps your body get used to the new oxygen levels.
- Climb slowly. Take your time on challenging hikes and take regular breaks. Rushing up a mountain could make symptoms worse. On multi-day pushes to the world’s highest summits, sleep no more than 1,500 feet higher than the night before if you’re over 10,000 feet.
- Avoid alcohol and sleep aids. Sleep aids slow breathing—exactly what you don’t want because it means less oxygen is getting being inhaled. And alcohol dehydrates you, which can make symptoms worse, but you’ll also get drunk a lot faster at higher altitudes (and your hangover will be brutal).
- Start easy. Only go hard after your body has adjusted. As in, if you plan to hike a few 14ers in Colorado, get to Denver a few days early, see the sights, go on a few short jogs if you’re feeling good, and let your body get used to the difference in oxygen pressure before summiting anything major.
- Drink lots of water. Altitude sickness can be worse if you’re dehydrated. So chug more than usual and consider throwing some electrolytes in your water for good measure if it’s hot.
How to Treat Altitude Sickness
If symptoms are starting to present, don’t call off your summit just yet. There are several things you can do to alleviate the discomfort. First of all, make sure you’re hydrated. Dehydration can exacerbate elevation sickness symptoms, so drink up! Water and electrolytes.
Then, if a headache plagues you, take Tylenol or Advil or other over the counter pain meds to help assuage the throbbing. Stronger opioids will only make the overall situation worse.
After that, suck it up and wait it out. Symptoms will typically pass after a few days.
If they don’t, or symptoms are severe, time to head back down the mountain and seek medical attention, which is an absolute necessity if you’re experiencing confusions, disorientation, or feel absolutely wrecked.
As for prescription medication, if you’re worried your symptoms will be unpleasant, you don’t have much time to acclimate, or you’ve experienced altitude sickness before (and didn’t enjoy it) and expect to again, you can get a prescription from your doctor for Acetazolamide. Otherwise, a surefire way to reduce symptoms is simply to retreat to a lower altitude.
Oh, and if you can’t sleep, don’t take any sedatives: they suppress your respiratory drive, which means less oxygen is getting into your system while you’re unconscious. No bueno.
Does Canned Oxygen Work?
We’ve all seen those little cans of oxygen at the checkout counter in mountain towns. But does oxygen in a can actually help prevent altitude sickness or help you breathe better at altitude?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: studies suggest that canned oxygen doesn’t work to prevent altitude sickness. That’s largely because of how oxygen works: you breathe it in, your body uses it, and you breathe out C02. A few breaths of canned oxygen are only in your system for a couple of minutes, then it’s gone. Meaning it won’t have any long-term beneficial effects. It might help you breathe better if you’re gasping for air or feeling momentarily lightheaded, but you’ll need to use it constantly–like an oxygen tank and mask–in order for it to have any benefits that last beyond the next few minutes.
So for most folks, buying cans of oxygen is a waste of money. And those oxygen bars in mountain towns? The benefits they offer will only last a few minutes past the duration of the treatment. They might bring a bit of relaxation, but you won’t suddenly find your headache gone or it easier to breathe later that evening.
Bottom Line
Altitude sickness is fairly unpredictable and not super treatable, but you can help prevent some of the side effects if you plan ahead and let yourself acclimate beforehand. Acclimatization is key. So spend a few days at altitude before you start hiking, bring pain killers just in case, drink plenty of water, and keep an eye out for severe symptoms at extra high altitudes. Otherwise, walk it off!
And don’t let a little altitude sickness keep you from wandering on.
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