What is Mountain Sickness?

What is Mountain Sickness?

Authored by Dr Richard Bennett on 20.02.2019
Medically Reviewed by Dr Aifric Boylan
Last updated on 11.06.2024

What is Mountain Sickness?

Mountain Sickness, also known as Altitude Sickness, is a condition you can develop if you usually live at low altitude and you climb to a higher altitude quickly.

What are the symptoms of Mountain Sickness?

Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and include:

  • Mild headache
  • Slight high temperature
  • Nausea
  • Decreased appetite
  • Weakness
  • Tiredness
  • Dizziness
  • Disrupted sleep
  • Faster breathing, particularly if you exert yourself
  • Heart palpitations/fast pulse
  • Swollen ankle/hands

symptoms of mountain sickness

What conditions can be assessed by our doctors?

Symptoms that indicate serious illness (an emergency) include:

  • Severe headache
  • Vomiting
  • Confusion/disorientation
  • Strange behaviour
  • Hallucinations
  • Feeling unsteady on your feet

These symptoms can develop quickly, over just a few hours.

Why does Mountain Sickness happen?

  • At higher altitudes the air pressure is lower.
  • This means that less oxygen is transferred into your bloodstream from the air you breathe.
  • If you ascend slowly your body can effectively adapt to these changes.

Who gets Mountain Sickness?

  • People tend to develop symptoms within a day or two of arrival at altitude.
  • Mountain Sickness is rare (though still possible) below 2500 metres above sea level.
  • The higher you climb and the faster you climb, the higher the risk of developing symptoms.
  • 20% of people climbing quickly to 2500 metres (8000ft) and 40% of people climbing quickly to 3000 metres (10,000ft) will develop Mountain Sickness (1).
  • Physical fitness and age haven’t been shown to make any difference to the risk.

What should I do if I get symptoms of Mountain Sickness?

The advice is very clear:

  1. Don’t go any higher.
  2. If your symptoms are worsening:
    1. Go back down the mountain straight away.
    2. Get emergency medical attention.
    3. Get down to the altitude where you last felt well.
  3. If your symptoms are mild and not worsening, don’t ascend any further until they’ve resolved (which will usually occur within a day). Have a very low threshold for descending and getting emergency medical attention.
  4. Rest. Physical activity can make Mountain Sickness worse.
  5. There are specific medications that can be used to prevent Mountain Sickness- these should be discussed with your doctor before you travel.
  6. There are also particular steroid medications that can be prescribed to treat Mountain Sickness (2)

Can you die of Mountain Sickness?

  • Yes.
  • The symptoms described can progress to coma, seizures and death.
  • Take it seriously. Descend the mountain if you’re in ANY doubt.

What measures can I take to prevent Mountain Sickness?

  • Once you’re above 2500 metres (8000ft) ascend a maximum of 300 metres (1000ft) per day.
  • Take preventive medications as prescribed by your doctor before your trip. 

Further Patient Resources

www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Article Resources

(1)www.merckmanuals.com 

(2)  BMJ 2003;326:915

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