Mountain sickness
Symptoms of altitude sickness
Symptoms of altitude sickness usually develop between 6 and 24 hours after ascending to high altitude.
Mild altitude sickness
Common symptoms of mild altitude sickness (sometimes called acute mountain sickness) can be similar to a bad hangover and may include:
- Headaches
- nausea and vomiting
- dizziness
- tiredness
- loss of appetite
- upset stomach
- feeling unsteady
- shortness of breath
- increased heart rate
- difficulty sleeping
- generally feeling unwell
The symptoms are usually worse at night.
Severe altitude sickness
Signs of severe altitude sickness can include:
- worsening of the symptoms describedabove
- a persistent, irritable cough
- breathlessness (even when resting)
- a bubbling sound in the chest
- coughing up pink or white frothy liquid
- clumsiness and difficulty walking
- irrational behaviour
- double vision
- fits (convulsions)
- drowsiness
- confusion
Severe symptoms could mean you're developing cerebral oedema or pulmonary oedema. These are potentially life-threatening complications of altitude sickness .
What to do if you have symptoms
If you have symptoms of mild altitude sickness, don't go any higher for 24 to 48 hours. If your symptoms don't improve or get worse during this time, you should descend immediately.
Severe altitude sickness is a medical emergency. Someone with severe symptoms should immediately descend to a low altitude and seek medical help.
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Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 30 Apr 2015
Introduction
Altitude sickness is a common condition that can occur when you climb to a high altitude too quickly. Just because you haven't had it before doesn't mean you won't develop it on another trip.
Symptoms of altitude sickness
Symptoms of altitude sickness usually develop between 6 and 24 hours after ascending to high altitude and can be similar to a bad hangover.
Treating altitude sickness
Altitude sickness can be treated by descending to a lower altitude, oxygen treatment, and different types of medication. If you have symptoms of mild altitude sickness, you shouldn't go any higher for at least 24 to 48 hours.
Complications of altitude sickness
Altitude sickness can cause potentially life-threatening conditions that affect the brain or lungs.If HACE isn't treated immediately, it's likely it will be fatal. Immediate descent to a lower altitude is necessary to prevent this.
Preventing altitude sickness
Proper acclimatisation to altitudes of 2,500m (just over 8,200 feet) or above is the best way to prevent altitude sickness. Ascending slowly will give your body time to adapt to the change in altitude.
Patient story: "'We were at high altitudes for four days and I was ill the entire time."
Jessica Mathur, a GP from London, was surprised when she became ill with altitude sickness during a holiday in Peru. I found it difficult to believe that I had altitude sickness. I just didn't expect it would happen to me.
Patient story: "Being careful to acclimatise properly did take extra time, but I was very glad I did."
After years of mountain climbing, David Hillebrandt learnt how to deal with his altitude sickness. "It's still as bad as it was 30 years ago. The only difference is that now I know how to deal with it."
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