When people ascend to altitudes over 5000 feet, some will experience adverse symptoms. Where very few people will have symptoms at this altitude, at 8000 feet or above, as many as 30% or more people will experience the effects of altitude. Altitude illness covers a spectrum from mild headaches and tiredness (acute mountain sickness) to more severe conditions involving fluid in the lungs (high altitude pulmonary edema) and swelling of the brain (high altitude cerebral edema.) Most symptoms of high altitude will begin within a few hours of ascending however the more severe cases often do not become apparent until 2-3 days of experiencing the higher altitude.

Prevention is key! For alpine climbers, a slow ascent and taking sleeping breaks at lower altitudes are crucial precautions. However, if you’re arriving at a high-altitude destination by jet airplane, these measures may not be possible. In such cases, using oxygen from a pure high-flow source (not a store-bought “can”) is the best way to prevent symptoms. Altitude illness is primarily caused by a lack of oxygen, leading to changes in the lungs, brain, and the rest of the body. By regularly using supplemental oxygen, you can often completely avoid developing symptoms.

Taking over-the-counter ibuprofen at 600 mg, three times a day for the first day, can also help prevent altitude sickness symptoms. However, please note that this is unlikely to be effective at higher altitudes (over 9000-10000 feet). Additionally, it’s important to avoid sedatives (including alcohol) during the first two days, as they can worsen altitude illness by slowing breathing or increasing snoring at night * Please be aware of the seriousness of High Altitude when traveling*