Whether you're hiking in the summer or skiing in the winter, if you're headed for high altitudes, it's good to be aware of symptoms of altitude sickness.
According to the July issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, susceptibility to altitude sickness varies but tends to decrease with age. It's not affected by training or your level of physical fitness.
The mildest form is acute mountain sickness. It's most common when you abruptly climb higher than 9,000 feet. Symptoms can include headache, marked fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and difficulty sleeping.
If symptoms aren't severe, you can spend a night or two at the same altitude before trying to go higher. If symptoms persist or get worse, descend to a lower altitude until they improve. Vigorous exercise tends to make altitude sickness worse.
More serious and potentially fatal are high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), a condition in which fluid accumulates in your brain, and high-altitude pulmonary edema, in which fluid accumulates in your lungs (HAPE).
HACE symptoms include profound lethargy, confusion and lack of coordination. Immediate descent is recommended. HAPE symptoms include breathlessness with exertion and eventually breathlessness at rest, chest tightness, extreme fatigue and a dry cough. It's critical to descend to a lower altitude and seek medical attention.
Before you travel, ask your doctor about medications to prevent altitude sickness or to ease symptoms if it occurs.
Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.
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