Altitude Sickness

AMS is caused by significantly decreased air pressure at elevation. The atmosphere at higher elevations contains the same levels of oxygen as at sea level (about 20%), but the air pressure decreases as the elevation increases to the extent that the air pressure at the top of Kilimanjaro is about 40% to 50% less than air pressure at sea level. The result is that when you inhale at higher elevations, it is much harder to fill your lungs because the atmosphere is not pushing as much air into them.

The symptoms of mild AMS are mild headache (that can be helped by aspirin or ibuprofen), slight nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Moderate AMS presents with severe headache that is not relieved by aspirin or ibuprofen, persistent vomiting, and increased fatigue. If a climber gets to this point, it is time to seriously consider stopping to acclimatize, or even descending. If not checked, the next step is severe AMS, which is a life threatening emergency condition.

Severe AMS presents with changes in consciousness and mental status, inability to walk straight, severe fatigue and shortness of breath even at rest, and possible cyanotic appearance. Severe AMS can lead to High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) which is an accumulation of fluid around the lungs, or High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) which is an accumulation of fluid around the brain. NOT good things! If it gets this far, the victim must immediately descend at least 2,000 to 4,000 ft, and possibly require evacuation for medical treatment.

The good news is that the body can adapt to these changes. When first encountered, the climber will be taking faster, deeper breathes to try to catch up to the lower air pressure. Acclimatization will occur if given time. The body will compensate for the changes, including increasing red blood cell production, and rebalancing the pH of the blood.

What to do to avoid AMS? The best thing to do is prevent AMS from taking hold. We have been told the best things to do are:
Go Slow.
Stay Hydrated.
Eat Well.
Take a rest day on the way up.
Good Conditioning helps.

Some people don't consider potential life threatening conditions a necessary part of their vacation. We don't either. That's why we are training, training, training......