According to over 50s travel review and advice site, Silver Travel Advisor, when travelling to destinations at high altitudes it is crucial that older travellers in particular need to be aware of the affects of altitude on the body.
Silver Travel Advisor says “regardless of age, Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can kill, the degree of severity can vary and some people are affected at lower altitudes than others. The rule of thumb is that most people acclimatise quickly at around 2500m, but can experience minor symptoms of breathlessness and headache, which can be treated with paracetamol or ibuprofen. But over 3,000m, altitude can become a major problem, particularly if the change of altitude is made rapidly. A daily in crease of more than 500m is the maximum advisable climb”.
Silver Travel Advisor urges caution to travellers who are visiting high altitude destinations, like Peru or Bolivia, and encourages them to plan ahead and make allowances for rapid changes of altitude.
The general advice is to take things gently on the first couple of days as even a small amount of exercise, such as climbing steps, or getting up quickly, even from a car or a seat, can exaggerate breathlessness and bring on dizziness.
Silver Travel Advisor suggests that if travellers experience severe problems, or if mild symptoms last for more than a few days, to relocate to a lower altitude, even 500m will help. Failure to take evasive action can result in AMS, or High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACE), which are serious and need immediate action. Prevention is better than cure, but the site also cautions to ensure in advance that travel insurance covers for emergency evacuation and airlift, if needed.
Those coping with high altitude should remember that increased breathing will result in the need to replace lost fluids via the lungs, but to avoid over-drinking as water can collect in the lungs and bring on a danger of drowning. Alcohol and smoking should also both be avoided as the affects are exaggerated at altitude.
Other affects of high altitude is the need to sleep more and eat less. Small meals, taken often, are better than large meals as the blood goes to the stomach to aid digestion and so a larger meal can slow down the both and bring on lethargy and headaches.
Difficulty breathing can contribute to sleep problems and so slow, deep, regular breaths are advised until a natural sleeping pattern is restored, and Silver Travel Advisor suggests to try sleeping propped up on pillows, or in a comfortable chair.
Natural remedies for altitude include coca tea, which is widely available, while in Bolivia the Indians chew coca leaves, which act as a stimulant and appetite suppressant. The leaves are on sale everywhere but it’s not advisable to bring leaves or tea bags back home as Customs will get very upset.
Medical remedies include taking Diamox to help with altitude, and advance preparation for a high altitude trip should include speaking with a GP to check that altitude drugs don’t interact with existing prescriptions.
Learn more about countering altitude sickness at these websites:-
http://www.altitude.org/altitude_sickness.php
http://ismmed.org/np_altitude_tutorial.htm#prevention
http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk/altitude.htm
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