Altitude Sickness and the Affects it has on you
Anyone planning to climb a mountain anytime soon should take heed of José de Acosta, a 16th century Jesuit and explorer who suffered from Acute Mountain Sickness (ASM) while climbing the Pariacaca in the Peruvian Andes.
In the book Natural and Moral History of the Indies, José’s ordeal is graphically described. On reaching the Staircases, the highest part of the range, he felt “such mortal anguish that I thought I would have to throw myself off my mount onto the ground.....This was soon followed by convulsive retching and vomiting that made me think I would (die).” Fortunately, he retreated down the mountain where his symptoms eventually disappeared.
What the priest suffered on the Pariacaca has all the hallmarks of ASM, caused by the drop in oxygen levels at high altitudes. Effects usually take hold about four hours after reaching an elevated location and can last for up to four days as red blood cells increase to encourage the circulatory system to produce more oxygen. The faster someone climbs, or the more they exert themselves without first being acclimatised, the more dangerous ASM can be, with fluids accumulating in the brain or lungs.
If you have respiratory problems or suffer from anaemia, it’s wise to avoid high altitudes in the first place, but if you’re determined to enjoy the most breathtaking views in the world, there are precautions you can take to minimise or prevent ASM symptoms, such as taking diuretics or anti-inflammatories. (Visit your doctor before you go for up to date advice.)
But if you start to feel ill while several thousand feet above sea level, the best remedy is to head for a lower altitude, keep yourself warm along the way and have plenty of rest when you arrive.