Those who want to climb the peaks of the world should first be examined by a doctor for cardiovascular, pulmonary and dental diseases. If you have infectious diseases, you should not climb at all. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system can also limit performance to such an extent that it is not possible to climb high mountains.
In order to climb high altitudes, a high level of endurance is essential right from the start – weekend tours in the Alps are usually not sufficient training for this. Instead, the condition must be steeled at least 3 months before departure with an endurance training three to four times a week.
React at the first appearance of symptoms
It is also important to recognize in time when the first signs of altitude sickness appear:
- If warning signs such as constant, severe headache, severe nausea, vomiting, rapid decline in performance, shortness of breath at rest, heart palpitations, insomnia, dry cough, dizziness, unsteadiness of gait, and/or lightheadedness occur during the mountain climb, descend again.
- If alarm symptoms such as confusion, severe shortness of breath at rest, insatiable cough with brown sputum and rattling breathing, bluish discoloration of the lips and lack of urine production, one must be taken immediately to lower altitudes.
Tips for prevention
The decisive criterion of any altitude adaptation is the speed with which a given altitude difference is overcome. Therefore, active ascents on foot are better than passive ascents by car or helicopter.
- Per day, you should aim for between 300 and 500 meters of altitude, but not at the height reached, but always stay a little lower.
- Drink a lot is vital, alcohol is prohibited.
- Carbohydrate food is better than high-fat and high-protein food, because it consumes less oxygen.
- When staying at altitudes above about 5,000 meters, for example, trekking in the Himalayas, you should take oxygen tanks and hyperbaric plastic bags, as well as radios and cell phones.
The preventive use of drugs such as painkillers, Diamox (for respiratory problems), nifedipine (for pulmonary edema), dexamethasone (for cerebral edema) or Viagra (for pulmonary edema) is rather discouraged, as they suppress the symptoms and therefore warning signs of altitude sickness. However, they may be useful for people with certain pre-existing conditions – after consultation with a physician – and are used as emergency medications.
