Altitude Sickness: Symptoms and Prevention

Hiding behind the towering Himalayas mountains, Bhutan is heaven for adventures. The kingdom is known for its well-preserved traditions and culture and untouched nature. And this also makes it a must-visit destination for trek lovers. There is hardly any feeling that can compare to the experience of trekking on some of the world’s highest mountains with incredible sights.

However, as you will be trekking to high-altitude spots, there are some signs to watch out for. Altitude sickness (or Acute mountain sickness – AMS) is often experienced for treks at high altitudes, so here is what you need to know about the symptoms and how to prevent the sickness for an enjoyable time in Bhutan.

I. High Altitude Sickness Symptoms

There are 3 levels of AMS symptoms– mild, moderate, and severe.

– Mild symptoms include thumping headache, nausea, fatigue, having trouble sleeping, and lack of appetite. Often, these symptoms will subsidize with usual headache remedies. 

– Moderate AMS will make you feel more nauseous (may lead to vomiting), continuous headache, and rapid heartbeat. This case would require careful monitoring to ensure it doesn’t proceed to more severe symptoms. 

– If the symptoms of altitude sickness are ignored, they can lead to life-threatening conditions affecting the brain or lungs. Severe AMS are HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) and HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema). 

+ HACE happens when you experience more severe AMS symptoms, but there is also the declining brain function with loss of physical coordination and balance. The person in this case will have trouble carrying out simple tasks like walking along a straight line or tying their shoelaces. Display of change in attitudes, such as irritation, confusion or disorientation may also imply HACE. Then, the person may become drowsy and unconscious. Common symptoms: hallucinations, loss of consciousness, fever and fatigue, photophobia, hypertension, confusion, coma, shortness of breath, inability to walk.

+ The easiest way to recognize HAPE is breathlessness, caused by excessive fluids in a person’s lung. Other symptoms are dry cough, nose bleed, having fever, rapid heartbeat, tightness in the chest, congestion, swelling and fainting. 

II. High Altitude Sickness Prevention

Before the trek:

– Meet your doctor to get advice about medicine and arrange the medicine for high mountain sickness. 

– Bring your own medicine with you in case you have AMS. 

– Purchase travel insurance that covers your highest point trekking and rescue with a helicopter. 

– Choosing a suitable trek for your fitness level and time, and suitable time for the trek. Low-altitude treks will be suitable for winter, and you may take on higher ones during spring and autumn.

– STOP intake of alcohol on the day your trek starts, or sooner, when you arrive in Bhutan. 

During your trek:

For a trek this high, you need to be aware of many factors, here are the details:

1. Know if you are or are not going to scale beyond 2,500m (8,200 ft) altitude. People may likely to experience AMS from the 2,500m (8,200 ft) height and beyond. Avoid traveling directly to areas of high altitude and Spend two excursions or three days in Paro in advance to acclimatize: hike to Tiger Nest or Chelela pass. Take 2 to 3 days to get used to high altitudes before going above 2,500m.

2. Be aware of your schedule. You need to know on which day of the trek is the highest point, or the threshold of 2,438m (8,200 ft) will be attained.

– If the highest point is attained on the first or second day – you are definitely gaining height too soon. Your body doesn’t have time to adjust to the changed barometric pressure around you. It is advised that you rest at the highest points for a few days. After the rest, you can continue if feeling fine, but otherwise, immediately descend to a lower height, or terminate the trip, depending on your situation. 

– If you reach the highest point on the third or fourth day, it is less worry since there’s time for your body to acclimatize. Again, even with this pace, whenever you start experiencing any AMS symptom, descend right away.

– Tell your travel companions how you feel, even if your symptoms are mild – there’s a danger your judgment may not be clear.

Other tips:

– Do not gain more than 600m (1,968 ft) each day.

– Rest for a day after every 900m (2,952 ft) gained before trekking up further.

– Make sure you’re drinking enough water while (gaining altitude).

– Avoid smoking, alcohol or medicines to help sleep or that cause drowsiness.

– Avoid any strenuous exercise/activities during the time in the high altitude.

– “Climb high but sleep low.” You may go gain more than 600m (1,968 ft) a day, but you need to go down and sleep at a lower altitude. This tactic is used by experienced high-altitude trekkers. 

– If you experienced a few symptoms, after 2 to 3 days, your body should have adjusted to the altitude and your symptoms should disappear. See a doctor if your symptoms do not improve or get worse.