How To Prevent And Treat Altitude Sickness

Acetazolamide

Acetazolamide is normally used to treat glaucoma, but because of how it works, it also happens to help prevent altitude sickness. If individuals know they are sensitive to drops in barometric pressure and they anticipate traveling to high altitudes, they may want to try taking acetazolamide starting two days before the trip and continue taking it for the duration of the trip. This medication can help prevent altitude sickness, but once symptoms have started, it might not reduce them. Patients will also need a recommendation from their doctor before implementing this method. To take advantage of this treatment method, individuals must plan ahead. As always when taking a medication, patients should be aware of its side effects, which include frequent urination and tingling feet.

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Return To A Lower Elevation

The main treatment for all stages of altitude sickness is to return to a lower elevation. This should be done as quickly as possible. For patients with mild altitude sickness, doctors recommend returning to an elevation that is one to two thousand feet lower. Most patients who are mildly ill start to feel better after twenty-four hours of being at a lower elevation, and symptoms often resolve completely within three days. Individuals with more serious cases of altitude sickness should be immediately moved to an elevation no higher than four thousand feet. These patients will need to see a doctor for an urgent assessment, and hospital treatment may be required.

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