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Mild altitude sickness is common. Experts do not know who will get it and who will not. Neither your
fitness level nor being male or female plays a role in whether you get altitude sickness.
Altitude sickness can be dangerous. It is smart to take special care if you go high-altitude hiking or
camping (like here in the Rockies).
Your symptoms may be mild to severe. They may not start until a day after you have been at a high
altitude. Many people say altitude sickness feels like having a hangover.
Altitude sickness can affect your lungs and brain. When this happens, symptoms include being confused,
not being able to walk straight (ataxia), feeling faint, and having blue or gray lips or fingernails. When you
breathe, you may hear a sound like a paper bag being crumpled. These symptoms mean the condition is
severe. It may be deadly.
If you are going on a high-altitude trek, learn about altitude sickness, its symptoms, and how to treat it.
Look out for other people in your group. You can learn more about altitude sickness at the International
Society for Mountain Medicine website at www.ismmed.org.
If you are hiking or camping, you and those with you need to know the symptoms of altitude sickness.
People often mistake altitude sickness for the flu, a hangover, or dehydration. As a rule, consider your
symptoms to be altitude sickness unless you can prove they are not.
How is altitude sickness treated?
The best treatment for altitude sickness is to go to a lower altitude. But if you have mild symptoms, you
may be able to stay at that altitude and let your body get used to it. Symptoms often occur if you have just
arrived at a mountain resort from a lower altitude.
You may also be able to use oxygen or a specially designed pressure chamber to treat altitude sickness.
If you stay at a high altitude, rest. You can explore the area, but take it easy. Limit any walking or activity.
Drink plenty of water, but do not drink alcohol. Do not go to a higher altitude until your symptoms go
away. This may take from 12 hours to 3 or 4 days.
For the headache, you can take an over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
or naproxen (Aleve). Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20. Aspirin has been linked to Reye
syndrome, a serious illness. You may also use medicine to reduce feeling sick to your stomach or other
symptoms.
A doctor can give you acetazolamide (Diamox). This speeds up how fast your body gets used to the
higher altitude. Nifedipine (Procardia) and dexamethasone are also used for altitude sickness. You may
also be able to use oxygen or a specially designed pressure chamber to treat altitude sickness.
Go to a lower altitude if your symptoms are moderate to severe, they get worse, or medicine or oxygen
treatment does not help. Go down at least 1500 ft (457 m). Go to a lower altitude as fast as you can or
get emergency help if someone with you has severe symptoms such as being confused or not being able
to walk straight. Go with the person. Never let someone with severe altitude sickness go down alone.
Source: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/altitude_sickness-health/article_em.htm