![]() ![]() Highly susceptible people can experience symptoms from 2500 m (7000 ft) onwards, in rare cases even below that. (Older people will ascend more slowly, and nothing protects you better from altitude sickness than ascending slowly.) Older people seem to be less susceptible. (Competitiveness and the desire to show off plays a part in this. Men appear to be more susceptible than women, especially young and fit men. There are many stories that indicate they may be even more susceptible! People who are extremely fit and exercise a lot get it just an easily as couch potatoes. Susceptibility to altitude sickness is random. ![]() There is no way to predict how your body will react if exposed to high altitude without proper acclimatization. As I said above, these conditions are extremely rare, provided you act sensibly when on the mountain.Īnybody can get altitude sickness. Also keep an eye on your climbing partners, since people suffering from these severe conditions may not be able to correctly assess their own condition.Īnybody experiencing symptoms that could indicate HAPE or HACE needs to descend IMMEDIATELY or they will die.īut please don’t panic now. Make sure that you always remain in contact with your guides and let them know exactly how you are feeling. However, if you do experience symptoms, your guides should also keep monitoring you, because AMS can progress to one of the more severe forms of altitude sickness. ![]() In fact, your guides may tell you during the briefing not to worry, that it is totally normal to be throwing up repeatedly during that last final push top the summit. The symptoms of acute mountain sickness as described above are self limiting and not dangerous. HACE becomes apparent as a lack of coordination, inability to walk in a straight line, confusion and irrational behaviors (to the point of not acknowledging the symptoms). The most obvious symptoms for HAPE are extreme breathlessness, even at rest rattling breath, coughing with pink froth and blue lips or finger nails. Everybody can expect to experience at least some of these symptoms in a mild form. The symptoms of AMS are headaches, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, sleeplessness, fatigue, dizziness. What are the symptoms of altitude sickness? None of those symptoms are altitude sickness. You may experience periodic breathing at night (where you stop breathing for up to 15 seconds, and then breathe very fast to make up for it, scary but harmless), They are considered normal and shouldn’t worry you: There is also a range of other symptoms you are likely to experience during a Kilimanjaro climb due to the altitude. If you want to know more details, there is a link to an excellent tutorial at the bottom of this page. What exactly causes the individual symptoms of altitude sickness is still not fully understood. HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) is fluid build up in the brain.īoth HAPE and HACE are potentially fatal but are thankfully extremely rare during a well planned Kilimanjaro climb. HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) is a fluid build up in the lungs. There are three main forms of altitude sickness:ĪMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) is very common when climbing Kilimanjaro. If you ascend faster, and everybody climbing Kilimanjaro will, then you may develop altitude sickness. The body can adjust to the reduced air pressure at higher altitude, but only at a rate of about 300 m (1000 ft) altitude gain per day. ![]() Very High Altitude: 3500 – 5500 m (11500 – 18000 ft)Įxtreme Altitude: above 5500 m (18000 ft)Īltitude sickness is a range of symptoms that can occur when someone ascends to a high altitude too rapidly, without sufficient acclimatization. If you are planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro you will sooner or later hear about altitude sickness.For those unfamiliar with the ins and outs of altitude illness, here are answers to the most common questions regarding mountain sickness. ![]()
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