How To Treat Altitude Sickness While Trekking In Nepal?
                     How To Treat Altitude Sickness 
While Trekking In Nepal?
Altitude Sickness
• Altitude sickness is the sickness induced when 
one moves forward to higher altitudes or higher 
elevations.
• In Nepal, various locals and tourists get the 
symptoms of this sickness while trekking to 
mountains. Generally, the probability of getting 
altitude sickness starts from 3500 meters.
Altitude Sickness - Reasons & Risks
• The reason behind altitude sickness is due to the 
less oxygen exposure in high altitudes. 
• In some cases, the body will adjust with the 
surrounding, decreasing the risk of altitude 
sickness.
•  Some dangerous forms of altitude sickness can 
lead to life threatening issues. 
• The risk of altitude sickness is seen in 20% of 
people when they are at a height of 8,000 m and 
40% people, at a height of 10,000 m.
Altitude Sickness- No Hard & Fast Rule
• There is no hard and fast rule as to why people 
might suffer from altitude sickness. Anyone in 
the high altitudes are prone to it. 
• However, young people, people residing in lower 
altitudes and those who are suffering from 
respiratory diseases are more susceptible to 
altitude sickness.
Types of Altitude Sickness
There are three categories of altitude sickness with 
common and severe form. The types are as 
follows:
• Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
• High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)
• High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
• Acute Mountain Sickness is the most common 
form of altitude sickness. This type of sickness is 
suffered by most people. 
• The symptoms of AMS are headache, dizziness, 
nausea and vomiting. If these symptoms are 
ignored, they can lead to life-threatening 
conditions which affect the brain or lungs.
• Furthermore, there is more chances of getting 
complicated HAPE and HACE sicknesses.
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema
• High Altitude Pulmonary Edema is a severe form 
of altitude sickness causing breathlessness. 
Excess fluid gets buildup in the lungs. 
• The symptoms are loss of appetite, fatigue and 
loss of energy, shortness of breath even while 
resting, problem sleeping etc. 
• It can also lead to high fever and frothy cough 
with blood tints.
High Altitude Cerebral Edema
• High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) is 
another dangerous form which causes fluid 
buildup in the brain. 
• The symptoms of HACE are headache, 
confusions, hallucinations, weakness and loss of 
co-ordination, lack of consciousness and 
paradoxical undressing (removing of clothes).
Altitude Sickness – Prevention
•Acclimatization
•Ascending slowly to higher elevations
•Stop traveling and rest for at least 24-48 hours
•Take ibuprofen (pain killer) to reduce headaches
•Drink enough water
•Avoid alcohol and smoking
•Avoid exercise
•Moving to lower altitude to take sleep and start 
ascending again.
•Taking oxygen or using Gamow bag in extreme cases
Altitude Sickness – When It Occurs 
• Altitude sickness occur anywhere when hiking 
above 3500 meters. Several mountaineers and 
trekkers must be careful while trekking. 
• In Nepal, mountaineers and trekkers climbing 
mountains or ascending towards higher 
elevations are often victims of this disease.
•  Additionally in Nepal, Himalayan Rescue Team 
offers facility of Gamow bag especially in the 
routes towards Lukla. 
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