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May 24, 2013
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Mountain Sickness (cont.)

Medical Author:
Eric A Nazziola, MD
Coauthor:
John Lafleur, MD
Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Altitude Sickness Treatment

Altitude Sickness Self-Care at Home

  • Delay further ascent until symptoms improve.
  • Rest and stay warm.
  • Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for headache.
  • Do not use sleeping pills or other central nervous system depressants to treat insomnia because they can suppress breathing.
  • If symptoms continue, do not travel any higher.
  • If symptoms worsen, descend approximately 1,000-2,000 feet (300-600 meters) immediately.
  • If descent is not possible, a portable hyperbaric chamber (Gamow bag) can be used to simulate a lower altitude.
    • The higher the altitude at which a hyperbaric chamber is used, the greater the apparent descent can be simulated. (This is because portable hyperbaric chambers can increase atmospheric pressure by 2 pounds per square inch.)
    • For example, a hyperbaric chamber at 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) can simulate a descent of 4,800 feet (1,500 meters), but the same hyperbaric chamber used at 24,600 feet (7,500 meters) can simulate a descent of 7,800 feet (2,400 meters).

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