Altitude Sickness: What It Is, Who It Affects, and How to Stay Safe

When you climb too high, too fast, your body doesn’t get enough oxygen — that’s altitude sickness, a group of symptoms caused by low oxygen levels at high elevations. Also known as high altitude illness, it doesn’t care if you’re fit, young, or experienced. Even athletes get hit hard if they skip the slow climb. It’s not just about feeling tired. Headaches, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath are common. In serious cases, fluid builds up in your lungs or brain — that’s when it turns dangerous.

Altitude sickness isn’t rare. It happens to people hiking in the Rockies, trekking in the Andes, or flying into high-altitude cities like La Paz or Lhasa. The real risk comes when you go from sea level to over 8,000 feet in a single day. Your body needs time to adjust — that’s called acclimatization, the process where your body makes more red blood cells and adjusts breathing to handle lower oxygen. Skip that, and you’re playing Russian roulette with your health. Some people adapt in a day. Others need three or four. And no, coffee or chocolate won’t help.

What makes it worse? Alcohol, dehydration, and pushing yourself too hard. Even common meds like travel medications, including sedatives or antihistamines used for motion sickness can mask early warning signs. That’s why so many people don’t realize they’re in trouble until it’s too late. The good news? Most cases are mild and go away if you stop climbing and rest. But if your symptoms get worse — confusion, coughing up frothy sputum, trouble walking straight — you need to descend now. No exceptions.

There’s no magic pill to prevent it, but some drugs like acetazolamide can help speed up acclimatization if taken before you climb. Others, like dexamethasone, are used only in emergencies. And yes, oxygen tanks or portable hyperbaric chambers exist — but they’re not something you carry on a casual hike. The best tool you’ve got is awareness. Know the signs. Listen to your body. Don’t ignore that pounding headache just because you’re on vacation.

Below you’ll find real stories and practical advice from people who’ve dealt with altitude sickness — from how to plan a safe ascent, to which meds to pack, to what to do when things go wrong. These aren’t theory pieces. They’re lessons learned the hard way, by travelers, climbers, and medical professionals who’ve seen what happens when people don’t take it seriously. Whether you’re planning a mountain trip or just curious about how your body reacts to thin air, this collection gives you what you need to stay safe — no fluff, no guesswork.