Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

My sinuses protest high altitude. The old nasal cavities, in turn, fight back and give me a headache. But this is nothing compared to how bad it can get ‘up there’. From Everest climber Dave Hahn and expedition doctor Deirdre Galbraith, here are some tips to get acclimated to those lofty heights.

1. Slow down. Keep a pace that allows you to breath easily and carry on a conversation.

2. Drink fluids. The air is dry up there and your body is working overtime. It’s suggested that you drink 3 liters a day, which should translate into pale pee and which you should be eliminating often.

3. Eat. The higher you get, the hungrier you get. The idea is to eat regularly, however. A diet high in carbs that amounts to 4,000 to 6,000 calories a day is optimal.

4. Listen to your body. Watch for symptoms of altitude sickness. Take a day off if you feel the need. If things are really bad, turn back and head to a lower elevation ASAP.

5. Don’t drink booze. Liquor can reverse acclimatization and even dehydrate you, so avoid it.

6. Consider taking drugs. Something called Diamox–when used according to medical advice–can ease altitude sickness. It’s been suggested that 125mg before bedtime can ease your breathing and help you get a better night’s sleep.

For more information about acclimatization, check out this article at Outside On-line.

'Karakoram Range, Pakistan' courtesty of Wikipedia.

• altitude
• altitude_sickness