{"id":32467,"date":"2025-02-27T12:07:33","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T15:07:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/understanding-altitude-sickness\/"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:07:33","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T15:07:33","slug":"understanding-altitude-sickness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geartips.club\/blog\/en\/understanding-altitude-sickness\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Altitude Sickness"},"content":{"rendered":"

In December, the Aconcagua season begins. It is the highest mountain outside the Himalayan range, reaching nearly 7,000 m in altitude and, in a way, relatively close to Brazil. Both experienced mountaineers looking to reach new summits and newcomers eager to experience a high-altitude mountain embark on this journey. The problem is that many of them do not fully understand what this means and what truly awaits them. Consequently, we start receiving news\u2014both good and bad, truthful and sensationalized\u2014about what people go through in this harsh environment, where life (human or any other living being) cannot be sustained permanently.<\/p>\n

\"Aconcagua<\/p>\n

Aconcagua Climb – Photo: Grajales Expeditions \/ Grajales.net<\/p>\n

What Happens to Our Body at High Altitude?<\/h2>\n

The higher we climb, the thinner the air becomes, meaning oxygen pressure drops, its molecules disperse, and they become less available for our lungs to capture. In simple terms: breathing becomes difficult. If we were at 8,000 m inside an airplane and the cabin suddenly depressurized, we would lose consciousness within seconds.<\/p>\n

\"Illustration<\/p>\n

So, how does someone climb Everest without oxygen? By undergoing a process called acclimatization, where the body gradually adapts to the lack of oxygen. Each person has their own acclimatization time, and this process can take days or even weeks, depending on the target altitude and individual physiology.<\/p>\n

However, in this article, we will not discuss acclimatization but rather what happens when our body starts feeling the effects of oxygen deprivation or when acclimatization does not occur as expected, leading to Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)<\/strong>\u2014from its mildest forms to severe conditions that can be fatal.<\/p>\n

What Is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)?<\/h2>\n

There is a significant debate about what qualifies as a high-altitude mountain. It is common in the mountaineering community to refer to altitude when above 4,000 m, but for our body, 3,000 m already represents physiological changes<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some people are more sensitive and may experience symptoms such as headaches and nausea at just 2,500 m\u2014these are typical signs of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). The incidence of AMS varies depending on the logistics of the climb (faster ascents tend to have a higher incidence, both of mild and severe cases). The highest incidence occurs between 3,500 m and 4,500 m, perhaps because this altitude is quickly reached by climbers before beginning the acclimatization process.<\/strong> In the French Alps, for example, there is a high incidence of Acute Mountain Sickness, as mountains between 4,000 m and 5,000 m are often climbed very quickly.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of Altitude Sickness<\/h2>\n

Altitude sickness is a collection of symptoms that typically appear hours or days after reaching high altitude as a response to the body’s adaptation to oxygen deprivation. Its diagnosis is clinical, based on symptoms. The intensity and number of symptoms vary from person to person, and the most common include:<\/p>\n

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