Altitude Sickness Treatment

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).