Altitude sickness: Causes, symptoms and tips.

What is altitude sickness?

Atmospheric pressure decreases the higher you go. Put simply, air density varies depending on altitude. This means that in a single breath of air at a beach or at a summit of, say, 6,000 meters above sea level (masl), your lungs will deliver a very different amount of oxygen to your blood. Without enough oxygen, your body begins to suffer from hypoxia and, with it, the first symptoms of altitude sickness, soroche, apunamiento or puna appear.

Symptoms

It can feel like you have the flu or a hangover. You may experience dizziness, nausea and vomiting, general exhaustion, headache, rapid and shallow breathing, elevated heart rate and sleep disturbances. In cases of extreme altitudes, above 8,000 meters, it could become fatal. But don't worry, let's take this step by step.

Considerations: when and who

Already from 2,500 meters of altitude you can experience altitude sickness or "apunamiento". San Pedro de Atacama, for example, is at 2,400 meters above sea level, which can already cause discomfort for people unaccustomed to the altitude. The effects of altitude are increased by sudden changes in it. For  example, if you take a flight from Santiago (520 meters) to La Paz (3,650 meters), you have a good chance of experiencing symptoms.

Studies show that people under fifty years old are more likely to suffer from this condition. In addition to a high or low biological predisposition of each individual that is difficult to determine, people who regularly practice cardiovascular sports may have better chances of avoiding puna.

Otherwise, you have less chance of getting altitude sickness if you live in a place of higher altitude. If you live on the coast, in any city above 1,000 masl you'll feel short of breath. A practical example: the Argentine national football team plays away against Bolivia in La Paz. After a few minutes, the Argentines will seem exhausted, while the Bolivian team can run the entire match. This is because the bodies of Bolivians have adapted to the scarcity of oxygen in the air (it's also why some football federations have wanted to eliminate La Paz as a match venue).

How to avoid it

1) Acclimatization: Gradual and sustained. Rushing and high altitudes were never good friends. This is why climbers who want to summit Everest spend days, even weeks at base camp. If you arrive in San Pedro de Atacama (2,400 masl) on a Tuesday, don't try to climb to Geysers del Tatio (4,200 masl) on Wednesday. Give your body a few days to adjust.

2) Act on the first symptoms: Your body will send you messages that something isn't right. If you feel altitude sickness, lie down and rest.

3) Hydration: Drink more water than usual to prevent dehydration from worsening puna symptoms. Drink before you feel thirsty.

4) Remedies and medication: You can take anti-inflammatory drugs to ease symptoms like headache and general discomfort, but they only mask the problem. The most effective formula for puna is also the oldest. Consuming coca leaf, whether as an infusion or chewing it fresh, will considerably reduce discomfort. If you're concerned about the narcotic effects of the plant, you shouldn't be; it would take 500 bags of coca tea to extract one gram of cocaine, of which barely a nanogram would be absorbed by your body. Simply coca leaves have a bad reputation in the world.

5) No alcohol or tobacco: It may seem obvious, but while you're adjusting to the altitude, it's not advisable to smoke. You don't need your lung capacity to be further compromised than it already is. Alcohol is also not recommended, as it promotes dehydration.

Did you know that very close to Santiago you can summit Cerro el Plomo, at almost 5,500 meters? Click here for information on how to undertake this expedition.

Do you know any other good tips for combating altitude sickness? Comment on this article below!

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