Nepal Holiday Treks and TOurs

Expert Tips to Avoid Altitude Sickness

Published 19th Feb, 2019

Expert Tips to Avoid Altitude Sickness


Altitude sickness refers to the symptoms offer in the high altitude. Most of the travellers experience the symptoms of Altitude Sickness while travelling above 2500m of altitude. Any travellers are likely to suffer to the Altitude sickness. The amount of oxygen in every breath you take, our body then tries to adapt the attitude, but we may suffer from Altitude sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). If you are going for a trek to high altitude, then it’s good for you to know about altitude sickness before beginning your trek.

You should not underestimate altitude sickness as it may take a serious form if you ignore it and don’t listen to your body. You may not lose your life but will definitely spoil your trekking experience with altitude sickness. If you are well aware of altitude sickness, then you can yourself adjust well at high altitude but you can also help others under such situation in its prevention and treatment.


What are the symptoms of Altitude Sickness or AMS? : Symptoms of Altitude Sickness

It is better to know about symptoms of attitude sickness so that you can heal or treat it by yourself quickly. Altitude Sickness is not specific, so it can vary from person to person. Some of the symptoms that appear are:-

  • Headache is the first and the most common symptoms of Altitude Sickness
  • Dizziness and faintness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Fatigue or weakness
  • Persistent rapid pulse.
  • Not feeling like eating, feeling weak and tired

Altitude sickness can affect to your brain and lungs. You become confused therefore you may faint and you may not be able to walk straight. You can see your lips and fingernails to be blue or grey in color. If so, then the condition or serious and it may be dangerous if not treated quickly.


What are the tips to Avoid Altitude sickness? : Tips to Avoid Altitude sickness.

  • You should not feel panic with the symptoms of altitude sickness. It is natural, when you are at the high altitude it can be treated by acclimatizing your body to that altitude which your body used to get before.
  • You can use oxygen or specially designed pressure chamber in order to treat altitude sickness.
  • You should drink enough water to keep your body hydrated by maintaining water level.
  • You can also take medicine of altitude sickness under prescription by doctor.
  • You should remove taking caffeine and alcohol at a high altitude.
  • You can also use home remedies medicine as garlic and cloves, as garlic thins the blood and increases blood flow and cloves support the body to be more efficient oxygen. Adequate consumption of these herbs will definitely help you to avoid the attitude sickness.


Some Trekking Routes that Might Cause AMS

Trekking above 3500 meters from the sea level may cause the acute mountain sickness. So most of the trekking in Everest region and Some trekking in Annapurna region may cause such problem. Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Langtang Gosainkunda Trek, Annapurna Circuit Trek, Manaslu Circuit trek and trekking in Kanchenjunga area are major risky trekking of AMS.

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Art representing various natural and cultutal heritages of Nepal